Uttar Pradesh govt presents first-ever Economic Survey, lays out $1 trillion economy roadmap

UP CM Yogi Adityanath

• UP targets $1 trillion economy via investment and better infrastructure.
• GSDP grew at 10.8 percent CAGR, projected to reach Rs 36 lakh crore in 2025-26
• Reforms in health, agriculture, and law enhance income, safety, and investor trust.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday presented its Economic Survey 2025-26 in the state legislature, laying out an investment-led growth strategy to position India’s most populous state as a $1 trillion economy over the medium term.

Presented by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, the survey is the first such annual economic document released by the state on the lines of the Union government’s practice and offers a data-backed view of the state’s macroeconomic performance, fiscal health and sectoral trajectory.

The survey estimates that Uttar Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 10.8 percent, rising from Rs 13.30 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 30.25 lakh crore in 2024-25. The economy is projected to expand to Rs 36 lakh crore in 2025-26. The state has also built an investment pipeline of over Rs 50 lakh crore in industrial proposals, underlining rising domestic and global investor interest.

A key pillar of the state’s investment push is the “Triple S” framework of safety, stability and speed. The policy architecture has focused on improving the law and order environment, regulatory certainty and faster approvals through single window digital platforms such as Nivesh Mitra. The survey cited memorandums of understanding worth Rs 2.94 lakh crore signed at the World Economic Forum 2026 as an indicator of improving global investor perception of Uttar Pradesh.

Infrastructure continues to be positioned as the backbone of growth. Uttar Pradesh is pitching itself as India’s expressway hub, with 22 expressways at various stages, including seven operational and three under construction. The state also has the country’s largest rail network and is expanding its aviation ecosystem with a target of 24 airports, including five international airports. The Jewar International Greenfield Airport is expected to emerge as a major logistics and cargo gateway for north India.

On the industrial front, the number of registered factories has crossed 30,000, nearly doubling over the past few years. Industrial gross value added has grown by 25 percent, the fastest among major states. The state is pursuing a cluster-based strategy, positioning Lucknow as an artificial intelligence hub, Kanpur as a drone manufacturing and testing centre and Noida as a major IT and electronics manufacturing base.

Agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries

The survey places agriculture and allied sectors at the core of the state’s growth strategy under the “Developed Uttar Pradesh 2047” roadmap, with a focus on modernising farming and raising farm incomes. The contribution of agriculture and allied sectors to the state economy has increased from 24 percent in 2017-18 to 24.9 percent in 2024-25. Uttar Pradesh remains the country’s largest foodgrain producer with output of 737.4 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25. Between 2017-18 and 2024-25, total foodgrain production rose by 28.5 percent and productivity improved by 11.8 percent, raising the state’s share in national foodgrain output from 18.1 percent to 20.6 percent.

Gross value added per hectare of crops increased from Rs 0.98 lakh in 2017-18 to Rs 1.73 lakh in 2024-25. Paddy and wheat remain the largest contributors to agricultural output, with higher acreage and productivity recorded in both kharif and rabi seasons. The area under pulses and oilseeds expanded sharply, reflecting crop diversification supported by state policies such as the pulses and oilseeds mission, MSP procurement and micro irrigation schemes.

The survey highlights large scale farm support through fertiliser distribution, crop loans and direct benefit transfers under PM Kisan to 3.12 crore farmers. Irrigated area expanded from 2.16 crore hectares in 2017-18 to 2.76 crore hectares in 2024-25, while crop intensity rose to 193.7 percent. The state is setting up seed parks across five agro climatic zones, with the first seed park in Lucknow to be developed at an investment of Rs 266.70 crore, aimed at reducing dependence on imported seeds and improving productivity. Uttar Pradesh is also emerging as a food processing hub, with around 65,000 processing units employing about 2.55 lakh people and over 15 agro and food processing parks developed across key districts.

Animal husbandry and fisheries continue to add to rural incomes. Uttar Pradesh accounts for 15.66 percent of India’s milk production, the highest among states, while fish production more than doubled between 2017-18 and 2024-25.

Healthcare and medical infrastructure

The survey underlines a sharp expansion in public health spending and medical infrastructure. The health budget for 2025-26 has been raised to a record Rs 46,728.48 crore, accounting for 6.1 percent of the total state budget, higher than the national average. The survey notes that increased government spending has led to a decline in out of pocket healthcare expenditure, improving access and affordability of public health services.

Institutional deliveries have risen sharply due to expanded coverage of maternal health programmes. In 2024-25, 96.12 percent of total deliveries in the state were institutional, while non institutional deliveries fell to 1.66 lakh. The survey also reports universal immunisation coverage in 2024-25 for children up to five years against major vaccine preventable diseases. Investments in newborn and child healthcare through special care newborn units and nutrition rehabilitation centres have contributed to improvements in maternal and child health indicators.

Law and order and security

The survey links improvements in law and order to the state’s investment push. It notes a decline in crime rates following sustained action against organised crime and mafia networks. Technology led policing, including wider deployment of CCTV networks and digital case management systems, has strengthened enforcement and accountability. Women safety initiatives such as women police beats, anti Romeo squads and the Safe City project have improved safety in public spaces. The survey also notes that judicial process reforms, including expansion of fast track courts and e courts, have helped improve the speed of justice delivery.

From a fiscal standpoint, the survey notes that the state budget has more than doubled in nine years to Rs 8.33 lakh crore for 2025-26, while own tax revenues have risen 2.5 times to Rs 2.09 lakh crore. The debt to GSDP ratio stands at 28 percent, lower than the national average, providing headroom for capital expenditure led growth.

The survey also tracks gains in income levels and financial inclusion. Per capita income has doubled to Rs 1,09,844 in 2024-25 and is targeted to reach Rs 1,20,000 in 2025-26. Uttar Pradesh leads the country in Ayushman Bharat coverage with 5.46 crore cards and has the highest number of Jan Dhan accounts at 10.22 crore.

On trade and digital governance, Uttar Pradesh has climbed to fourth place in the Export Preparedness Index 2024 and ranks first among landlocked states. The state has also topped national rankings in e Prosecution and expanded direct benefit transfers to over 3.12 crore PM Kisan beneficiaries.

The survey flags energy transition and urbanisation as medium term growth drivers. The share of solar power in installed capacity has increased from 23 percent to 27 percent. The proposed Lucknow State Capital Region and plans for 100 new townships aim to manage urban expansion, with the urban population projected to reach 35.8 percent by 2046.

The Economic Survey positions Uttar Pradesh as an increasingly investible market with improving infrastructure depth, fiscal headroom and sectoral diversification. For investors, the key monitorable will be the pace at which large investment proposals convert into on ground projects, jobs and sustained income growth.