UP foundation day: six people to receive Gaurav Samman

The Uttar Pradesh government will confer the prestigious UP Gaurav Samman on six distinguished individuals this year during the state's foundation day celebrations, which will take place from January 24 to January 26 at Awadh Shilp Gram in Lucknow. Each recipient will receive a prize of Rs 11 lakh, a certificate of appreciation and a shawl. The list includes Krishnakant Shukla from Varanasi (physics, musician, poet); Himanshu Gupta from Vrindavan, Mathura (entrepreneur-environmentalist); Manish Verma from Kanpur (agriculture-Dalit entrepreneur); Krishna Yadav from Bulandshahr (woman entrepreneur); Colonel Subhash Deshwal from Bulandshahr (agricultureentrepreneur); and Dr Jai Singh from Bahraich (banana production).  Along with the main event, a variety of programs will be held throughout the state, including at Sector-7 of Maha Kumbh, Noida Shilpgram and in all 75 districts. The theme for Uttar Pradesh Day 2025 is "Development and Heritage: Uttar Pradesh on the Path to Progress."
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said Uttar Pradesh was playing an important role in the economic, social, political and spiritual development of the country, as she greeted people on the state's formation day. "I am confident that this state will continue to move forward on the path of overall development. I wish for the continued progress and happiness and prosperity of the hardworking and talented residents of Uttar Pradesh," she said in a post on X.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of its 76th Foundation Day. In a post shared on social media platform X, he highlighted the cultural and historical significance of the state while expressing his vision for its growth in the future. "'Raghukulnandan' Prabhu Shri Ram and Yogeshwar Shri Krishna's holy birthplace, a land blessed by Baba Shri Vishwanath, the glorious soil of creation, culture, values, and valour.“ I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of its 76th Foundation Day!" Adityanath said.This year, celebrations will take place from January 24 to January 26 at Awadh Shilp Gram in Lucknow as the state marks the 76th anniversary of its formation. 
Uttar Pradesh holds the distinction of giving India nine Prime Ministers, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Chandrashekhar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee (from Lucknow), and the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (from Varanasi). Additionally, Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of trailblazers like Sucheta Kriplani, India’s first female Chief Minister, and Mayawati, the first Dalit Chief Minister of the state, who took office in 1995.
Uttar Pradesh was earlier known as United Provinces. On January 24, 1950, it was recognised as Uttar Pradesh.In 1902, the British renamed the North-Western Provinces to the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Later, the capital shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow in 1902. Post-independence, the United Provinces became an administrative unit in 1947 and the princely states of Tehri Garhwal and Rampur were merged into it by 1949. Finally, on January 24, 1950, the state was renamed Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, Uttar Pradesh Day was first celebrated in 1989. However, the tradition was discontinued when the Samajwadi Party rejected the proposal. It was revived in 2017 and is now celebrated annually.
While Uttar Pradesh remains India’s largest state by population, it once included the hill regions that now form Uttarakhand. In 2000, these areas were carved out to create a new state, originally named Uttaranchal, later renamed Uttarakhand. Uttar Pradesh also plays a vital role in shaping India’s democracy. The state boasts the highest number of Lok Sabha seats (80), 403 Assembly seats, and 31 Rajya Sabha seats, making it the most politically significant state in the country.