What was Uttar Pradesh called during British era?
Published on: February 09, 2026 18:23 IST
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Image Source : www.incredibleindia.gov.inWhenever India's population is discussed, Uttar Pradesh is often the first state that comes to mind due to its large population. Uttar Pradesh also has the highest number of districts in the country, with a total of 75 districts.
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While many people know these facts, very few are aware of what Uttar Pradesh was called before India's independence or during the British era. Let's take a look back in history to find out the state's old name.
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During British rule, present-day Uttar Pradesh was known as the United Provinces. It was also referred to in Hindi as Sanyukt Prant, a name commonly used at the time.
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The British originally named the region the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, after merging the two areas. In 1935, the name was officially shortened to simply United Provinces.
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The United Provinces included many historic regions such as Agra, Awadh (Oudh), Rohilkhand, Bundelkhand, and the Doab region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. These regions had their own rulers and cultures before the British grouped them into one province.
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After India became independent and the Constitution came into force, the province was renamed Uttar Pradesh in January 1950. Later, in the year 2000, a part of it was separated to form a new state called Uttarakhand (earlier known as Uttaranchal).
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The name 'Uttar Pradesh' comes from Hindi. The word 'Uttar' means north, and 'Pradesh' means state or region. So, Uttar Pradesh simply means the 'Northern State', which matches its location in the country.
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Today, Uttar Pradesh has a total of 75 districts and 18 divisions, is the most populous state in India.
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Uttar Pradesh ranks fourth in area, after Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.