India's most populous state at 200 million+ inhabitants. Contrived as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh on April 1, 1937 during British rule, the state was renamed Uttar Pradesh (North Country) on January 26, 1950 and became a constituent state of the Republic of India.
One-fifth of Uttar Pradesh's people are classified as Scheduled Castes (aka, “untouchables”), the highest number in India.
The early history of this area saw 16 Buddhist, Brahmanic or Hindu mahajanapadas (great states) battle for supremacy for a millenium. Of those, seven fell entirely within the present-day boundaries of Uttar Pradesh.
Natives of the state call themselves 'UP-waale' or 'people of Uttar Pradesh'. Capital is Lucknow.
