Uttar Pradesh

• 25 Jan 2025

UP Foundation Day 2025

Why in News? 

Uttar Pradesh, celebrating 75 years as a state, was renamed from the United Provinces in 1950 and plays a pivotal role in India's politics and economy. 

• The state has grown in political and economic prominence, setting ambitious goals like becoming a trillion-dollar economy. 

Key Points 

• Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day 2025: 
  • The theme for Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day 2025 is "Development and Heritage: Uttar Pradesh on the Path to Progress". 
  • The state government will confer the ‘Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman’ award on six individuals from the fields of music, agriculture and education during the state foundation day.  
• Historical Significance: 
  • Uttar Pradesh, formerly known as United Provinces, was renamed on 24 January, 1950, by the governor general of India through the United Provinces (Alteration of Name) Order, 1950. 
  • The state began celebrating 24 January as UP Foundation Day in 2018, following a suggestion by governor Ram Naik. 
• Political Importance:       
  • The state contributes 80 Members of Parliament to the Lok Sabha, giving it considerable influence in national politics. 
  • It has produced nine Prime Ministers, including the current PM, Narendra Modi, who represents Varanasi in Parliament. 
• Economic Aspirations: 
  • Uttar Pradesh strives to move beyond its BIMARU (economically underdeveloped) tag and achieve a trillion-dollar economy status. 
    • BIMARU: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh 
• Introduction of ODOP Scheme: 
  • The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme was launched during the first Foundation Day celebrations in 2018 to promote local industries and crafts. 
    • The occasion is aimed to launch new schemes and initiatives aimed at boosting the state's development and welfare. 

Uttar Pradesh’s First Double-Decker Bus Restaurant

Why in News? 

Uttar Pradesh’s first double-decker bus restaurant, named Pumpkin, has been inaugurated at the Media Centre in the Maha Kumbh Mela area, Prayagraj.  

Key Points    

• The restaurant serves exclusively vegetarian and satvic food, catering to the religious atmosphere of the Kumbh Mela. 
• Designed to be affordable, it aims to accommodate the budgets of common devotees. 
• Founder of the Pumpkin brand announced plans to expand the brand to other religious destinations such as Kashi, Mathura, and Ayodhya. 

Maha Kumbh 

• Kumbh Mela comes under United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 
• It is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. 
  • It takes place on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik, the Shipra river in Ujjain, the Ganges in Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river in Prayagraj. The confluence is referred to as the ‘Sangam‘.