Launched in 2018, the ODOP scheme identifies a unique traditional product per district to enhance local industries and exports. This scheme has boosted handicrafts, agro-products, and MSMEs across UP. It aligns with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

Uttar Pradesh has the second-largest GSDP in India after Maharashtra. Despite a lower per capita income, its massive population size drives the economic volume. UP’s GSDP crossed ₹20 lakh crore recently.

Kanpur is known as the "Manchester of the East" for its strong leather and textile industries. Its leather exports contribute significantly to UP’s foreign exchange earnings. The city also houses a major leather cluster supported by government initiatives.

Western UP, with fertile soil and good irrigation, is ideal for sugarcane cultivation. The region has the highest concentration of sugar mills in India. This crop is central to the rural economy and agro-industry in UP.

In recent years, the services sector, including trade, finance, education, and transport, has become the highest contributor to UP's GSDP. It reflects the state’s gradual shift from agriculture-based economy to a diversified one. This structural change indicates growing urbanization and development.

Kushinagar is believed to be where Buddha gave his final sermon and attained Mahaparinirvana. It is one of the four holiest Buddhist sites.

Hailing from Hathras, Raja Mahendra Pratap took the cause of Indian independence to foreign lands, collaborating with anti-British forces abroad.

Rajasekhara, who served in the court of Mahendrapala, was a noted Sanskrit poet and dramatist and is believed to have spent time in Kanauj.

Though located in Gujarat, some scholars argue Valabhi's influence reached UP's educational centers, especially near Sitapur through Buddhist monastic circuits.

Ashfaqulla Khan was captured months after the Kakori robbery due to an informer’s tip, and he was later executed in Gorakhpur jail.

Harshavardhana was a patron of Buddhism and gave liberal donations to the Sarnath monastery, as mentioned in Chinese and Indian sources.

The Atala Masjid is a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture, commissioned by the Sharqi ruler Ibrahim in the 15th century.

Ahmadullah Shah led a major revolt in Faizabad and Awadh and gained popularity among both Hindu and Muslim peasants during 1857.

Cunningham, regarded as the father of Indian archaeology, matched many ancient Buddhist sites like Sankasya with modern towns in UP through inscriptional and textual analysis.

Parshvanatha, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, was born in Varanasi, which is close to the modern Kasganj region.

Shuja-ud-Daula allied with the Mughals and the Bengal Nawab but was defeated at Buxar, leading to British supremacy in UP and Bihar.

Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan, is buried in the Taj Mahal, Agra, which stands as an eternal symbol of love.

The Sharqi dynasty established Jaunpur as a regional capital, known for its distinctive architecture and development of Indo-Islamic culture.

Dalhousie’s policy of annexing native states under the pretense of misrule led to the controversial takeover of Awadh, angering both elites and peasants.

Kampilya, a major city of the northern Panchala kingdom during Mahabharata times, is located near present-day Farrukhabad.

Coins and inscriptions suggest that Rajuvula, a Northern Satrap (Indo-Scythian), ruled the Mathura region during the 1st century CE.

Panch Mahal is a five-story palace in Fatehpur Sikri that reflects Akbar’s secular and artistic sensibilities, likely used for entertainment and gatherings.

The Shatapatha Brahmana mentions Kosala as a prominent region, highlighting its importance in rituals and early political geography.

Baba Gambhirnath played a key role in reviving and modernizing the Nath Panth in Gorakhpur during British rule, promoting spiritual practices and education.

Samudragupta’s Allahabad Pillar inscription is a primary source for Gupta history, depicting his military campaigns and political achievements.

Kashi, meaning ‘the luminous one’, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities and was a prominent center for Vedic rituals and learning.

The Congress-Muslim League agreement, known as the Lucknow Pact, was signed in Lucknow during the 1916 session of the Indian National Congress.

Born in Shahjahanpur, Bismil played a leading role in founding HRA, which later evolved into HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association).