Under Yogi, UP’s economy soars from Rs 12.88 lakh crores to Rs 27.51 lakh crores in just 8 years -

Lucknow :

In a major achievement for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh’s economy has more than doubled, rising from Rs 12.88 lakh crore in 2017 to Rs 27.51 lakh crore today, all without the raising of taxes. The Yogi government is now ambitiously targeting an economy worth over Rs 30 lakh crore in 2025-26 financial year.

Chief Minister Yogi has repeatedly exposed how previous governments allowed rampant corruption and looting of public wealth, leaving the state coffers empty — so much so that even paying salaries to government employees was a struggle.

In sharp contrast, the Yogi government’s commitment to good governance and transparent administration has stabilized the state’s finances and propelled Uttar Pradesh to new heights of economic prosperity.

One of Yogi Adityanath’s most significant achievements has been shedding Uttar Pradesh’s image as a “BIMARU state.” Through relentless efforts, he has positioned UP as the “growth engine” of India for the past five years.

Although UP has always been India’s largest state by population, its GSDP from 1950 to 2017 had only reached Rs 12.75 lakh crore. Under Yogi’s leadership, the GSDP has more than doubled to Rs 27.51 lakh crore, with a target of Rs 30.77 lakh crore set for the current financial year.

Once mocked, Uttar Pradesh today stands tall as India’s second-largest economy, contributing 9.2 per cent to the national GDP. In 2023–24, while India’s GDP grew at 9.6 percent, Uttar Pradesh outpaced it with an impressive growth rate of 11.6 percent.

It is worth recalling the situation before 2017, when UP struggled to pay salaries on time and development projects stalled due to chronic budgetary shortfalls. Today, thanks to prudent fiscal management and structural reforms under CM Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has become a revenue-surplus state for five consecutive years—all without burdening its citizens with additional taxes.

The government tackled tax evasion, plugged revenue leakages, and embraced digital governance on a large scale to enhance transparency. Despite having the country’s lowest diesel and petrol rates, Uttar Pradesh has continued its remarkable journey toward economic prosperity, proving that sustainable development is achievable with honest leadership and strategic planning.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has placed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India at the core of his governance priorities. As a result, Uttar Pradesh today stands as a shining example of the digital revolution in India. By December 2024, during the financial year 2024–25, the state recorded over 1,000 crore digital transactions — with more than half conducted through UPI.

This remarkable achievement has been made possible through widespread internet accessibility in villages, increased digital awareness, and the availability of internet-enabled devices across the state.

Moreover, the government’s direct transfer of funds into the bank accounts of scheme beneficiaries has dismantled the web of middlemen, significantly curbing corruption. Presently, funds for 207 schemes across 11 departments — including 113 schemes of the Central Government — are being disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

In 2024–25 alone, over Rs 1 lakh crore has been transferred to more than 9 crore beneficiaries, saving the government approximately Rs 10,000 crore through DBT efficiencies.

Uttar Pradesh’s economic resurgence under the Yogi government has also earned accolades from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). According to the RBI’s 2024–25 state budget report, UP’s share in the own tax receipts of all Indian states was 9.9%, 10.5%, and 11.6% for the years 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 respectively — ranking it the second-best performing state. In these years, while the average own tax-to-GSDP ratio for other states stood at 6.5%, 7.0%, and 7.2%, UP posted higher ratios of 7.6%, 9.8%, and 10%, respectively.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath relentlessly focused on strengthening the state’s economic foundations in the first three years of his tenure. As a result, over the past five years, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented progress, driven by stringent action against corruption, a favorable environment for investment, and policies encouraging industrial growth.

Uttar Pradesh’s once crime-ridden image has been decisively overturned. Mafia networks and organized crime, which previously extorted entrepreneurs and investors, have been virtually eliminated. Today, Uttar Pradesh has become the first choice for investors and a major contributor to India’s economic growth.

In a remarkable transformation, even the temples that were once mocked by political opponents are now pivotal to the state’s economy. Religious tourism has seen an extraordinary boom, with global tourists thronging major pilgrimage centers like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura. The spectacular success of events like the Mahakumbh is a testament to this revival.

The UP Model’s impact has been so great that it is now recognized and discussed on platforms like the United Nations—a true reflection of Uttar Pradesh’s inspiring journey under Yogi Adityanath’s leadership.