Maha Kumbh likely blessed UP's GDP too, as projected in the state budget

Maha Kumbh

The economy of Uttar Pradesh is likely to have gained considerably from the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, as projected in the state's annual budget for the fiscal which pegged the GDP of India’s most-populous state to rise by Rs 2.1 lakh crore over FY24, even as some industry estimates see the impact higher at Rs 3 lakh crore.

The FY26 state budget, presented on February 20, pegged UP's GDP for 2024-25 to be Rs 72,000 crore higher at Rs 25.71 lakh crore.

A year ago, the state budget for FY25 had projected UP’s GDP at Rs 24.99 lakh crore for the fiscal, which has now been revised higher to Rs 25.71 lakh crore – indicating a likely ‘Maha Kumbh impact’.

Official estimates say that over 60 crore people participated in the religious congregation, spread over 45 days, which formally ended on February 26.

“The Maha Kumbh will help the UP economy grow by over Rs 3 lakh crore,” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said in response to a query in UP’s assembly on February 21.

The latest state budget data projects UP’s GDP to rise by Rs 2.1 lakh crore to Rs 25.71 lakh crore, compared to Rs 23.61 lakh crore in FY24, a likely boost of 8.9 percent on year. During 2019-20, when the last Kumbh was held, UP’s economy grew by Rs 2.51 lakh crore, a growth of 16.4 percent compared to the previous fiscal.