State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 26 Mar 2025

Startup Ecosystem Report 2025

Why in News? 

According to the Startup Ecosystem Report-2025, Uttar Pradesh has ranked 3rd in the country's startup ecosystem, where 26 startups have achieved unicorn status.  

Key Points 

•  About: 
  • According to the report, Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable progress in its startup ecosystem . As a result, over 14,000 startups have emerged in the state.  
  • Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country where startups are active in  49 districts . 
  • Earlier, the centre of startups was only in big cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow and Kanpur, but now they are growing rapidly in smaller cities as well. 
• Top 10 Startup Hub Cities of Uttar Pradesh:   
  • Among the top 10 startup hub cities of Uttar Pradesh , Noida leads the list with 3418 startups , followed by Lucknow with 1789 , Ghaziabad with 1582 , and Kanpur with 586 startups. 
  • There are 406 startups active in Varanasi , 359 in Agra , 291 in Meerut , and 283 in Prayagraj . At the same time 201 startups are active in Gorakhpur and 177 in Bareilly.  
• Contribution of Uttar Pradesh to the Country: 
  • Uttar Pradesh contributes 9.6% of the total recognized startups in India. 
  • Despite lagging slightly behind Delhi (10%) and Karnataka (10.6%) , Uttar Pradesh's rapidly growing share could soon take it to the second spot. 

Unicorn 

• Introduction:  
  • A unicorn is any privately owned firm with a market capitalization of over  USD 1 billion. 
  • This reflects the emergence of new entities dedicated to offering  creative solutions and new business models, among other products/services . 
  • Its various categories include FinTech, EdTech, Business-to-Business (B2B) companies, etc.  
• features:  
  • Divisive Innovation: Almost all unicorns have brought innovation in the sector they belong to, for example ‘Uber’ has changed the face of commuting.  
  • Technology Driven: This business model is driven by the latest technological innovations and trends.  
  • Consumer-Centric: Their aim is to simplify tasks for consumers and become a part of their everyday lives.  
  • Private Ownership: Most unicorns are privately owned, their valuation increases further when an established company invests in them.  
  • Software-Based: A recent report shows that 87% of Unicorns’ products are software, 7% are hardware and the remaining 6% are other products and services. 

Bithoor Festival 2025

Why in News? 

Bithoor Mahotsav was organised in Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh from 21st to 23rd March, 2025. 

Key Points 

•  About:  
  • This festival is organised every year at  Bithoor, the historical and mythological place of Kanpur. 
  • The festival will showcase the glorious history of the Revolution of 1857 along with fascinating presentations of imagery, theatre, music, drama and various cultures. 
  • This year (2025) festival was based on the shared culture and historical heritage of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. 
• Role of Bithoor in the Revolution of 1857: 
  • Located in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, this town was deeply associated with the First War of Independence of 1857 . 
  • The Siege of Kanpur (5 - 25 June 1857) began near Bithoor Fort. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, was exiled to Bithoor by the British. His fort became the headquarters of the rebellion's strategy. 
  • The prominent heroes of the freedom struggle, Nana Saheb, Ramchandra Pandurang and Tatya Tope started their struggle against British rule from Bithoor.  
  • On 19^th July 1857 , British General Havelock captured Bithoor. After this, the British set fire to the Bithoor fort, ghats and many temples.  
    • In this tragedy, Nana Saheb's 14-year-old daughter, Mainavati , was martyred by burning in the fire. In her memory, a road in Kanpur was named 'Mainavati Marg'.