United Provinces (1937–1950): Difference between revisions

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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox Former Subdivision
{{Infobox Former Subdivision
|native_name       =  
| native_name           =  
|conventional_long_name = United Provinces
| conventional_long_name = United Provinces
|common_name       = United Provinces
| common_name           = United Provinces
|subdivision       = [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|Province]]
| subdivision           = [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|Province]]
|nation           = <br />[[British Raj|British India]] (1937–1947)<br />[[Dominion of India]] (1947–1950)
| nation                 = <br />[[British Raj|British India]] (1937–1947)<br />[[Dominion of India]] (1947–1950)
|image_map         = Map of the United Provinces from The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1907-1909).jpg
| image_map             = Map of the United Provinces from The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1907-1909).jpg
|image_map_caption = Map of the United Provinces  
| image_map_caption     = Map of the United Provinces
|capital           = [[Lucknow]]
| capital               = [[Lucknow]]
|p1               = United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
| p1                     = United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
|flag_p1          = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
| p2                     = Rampur State
|p2               = Rampur State
| p3                     = Benares State
|flag_p2          = Flag of the Rampur State.svg
| p4                     = Garhwal Kingdom
|p3               = Benares State
| s1                     = Uttar Pradesh
|flag_p3          = Drapeau Benares.png
| flag_s1               = Seal of Uttar Pradesh.svg
|p4               = Garhwal Kingdom
| border_s1              = no
|flag_p4          = Flag of the Princely State of Tehri Garhwal.svg
| image_flag             =  
|s1               = Uttar Pradesh
| flag_type             = [[Star of India (flag)|Flag]]
|flag_s1           = ..Uttar Pradesh Flag(INDIA).png
| image_coat             = Badge of British United Provinces.svg
|image_flag       = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
| s2                     =  
|flag_type         = [[Star of India (flag)|Flag]]
| image_s2               =  
|image_coat       =  
| year_start             = 1937
|s2               =  
| year_end               = 1950
|image_s2         =  
| today                 = [[Uttar Pradesh]]<br>[[Uttarakhand]]
|year_start       = 1937
|year_end         = 1950
|today             = [[Uttar Pradesh]]<br />[[Uttarakhand]]
}}
}}


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==History==
==History==
It came into existence on 1 April 1937 as a result of the shortening of the name of the "[[United Provinces of British India]]". It corresponded approximately to the combined regions of the present-day Indian states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm|title=Provinces of British India|website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}</ref>
It came into existence on 1 April 1937 as a result of the shortening of the name of the "[[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]]". It corresponded approximately to the combined regions of the present-day Indian states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm|title=Provinces of British India|website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}</ref>


===Provincial autonomy===
===Provincial autonomy===
The [[Government of India Act 1935]] enlarged the elected provincial legislature and expanded provincial autonomy vis-a-vis the central government.
The [[Government of India Act 1935]] enlarged the elected provincial legislature and expanded provincial autonomy vis-a-vis the central government.


In the elections held in 1937, the [[Indian National Congress]] won the majority seats, but declined to form a government. Therefore, on 1 April 1937, and the [[Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari|Nawab of Chhatari]], the leader of the National Agriculturist Parties, was invited to form a minority provisional government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1937/apr/19/provincial-governments-ministers|title=PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS (MINISTERS). (Hansard, 19 April 1937)|website=hansard.millbanksystems.com}}</ref>
In the elections held in 1937, the [[Indian National Congress]] won the majority seats, but declined to form a government. Therefore, on 1 April 1937, the [[Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari|Nawab of Chhatari]], the leader of the National Agriculturist Parties, was invited to form a minority provisional government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1937/apr/19/provincial-governments-ministers|date=19 April 1937|title=PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS (MINISTERS). (Hansard, 19 April 1937)|website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref>


{| width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 2px #DEE8F1 solid; font-size: x-big; font-family: verdana"
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#666666; color:white"|Minister
! Minister
! style="background-color:#666666; color:white"|Portfolio
! Portfolio
|-
|-
|[[Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari|Nawab of Chhatari]]
|[[Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari|Nawab of Chhatari]]
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The Congress reversed its decision and resolved to accept office in July 1937. Therefore, the Governor [[Sir Harry Graham Haig]] invited [[Govind Ballabh Pant]] to form the government.<ref>{{cite book |title=AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTIONS |publisher=Shodganga |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/17221/9/09_chapter%202.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Information Series, Volumes 4-5|date=1939|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CeQVAQAAMAAJ}}</ref>
The Congress reversed its decision and resolved to accept office in July 1937. Therefore, the Governor [[Sir Harry Graham Haig]] invited [[Govind Ballabh Pant]] to form the government.<ref>{{cite book |title=AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTIONS |publisher=Shodganga |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/17221/9/09_chapter%202.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Information Series, Volumes 4-5|date=1939|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CeQVAQAAMAAJ}}</ref>


{| width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 2px #DEE8F1 solid; font-size: x-big; font-family: verdana"
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#666666; color:white"|Minister
! Minister
! style="background-color:#666666; color:white"|Portfolio
! Portfolio
|-
|-
|[[Govind Ballabh Pant]]
|[[Govind Ballabh Pant]]
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===Post-independence===
===Post-independence===
Following independence in 1947, the [[princely states]] of [[Rampur State|Rampur]], [[Benares State|Banares]] and [[Garhwal Kingdom|Tehri-Garwal]] were merged into the United Provinces. On 25 January 1950, this unit was renamed as [[Uttar Pradesh]]. In 2000, the separate state of Uttaranchal, now known as [[Uttarakhand]], was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.
Following independence in 1947, the [[princely states]] of [[Rampur State|Rampur]], [[Benares State|Banares]] and [[Garhwal Kingdom|Tehri-Garwal]] were merged into the United Provinces. On 24 January 1950, this unit was renamed as [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/up-diwas-the-interesting-story-on-how-united-province-became-uttar-pradesh-118012400555_1.html|title=UP Diwas: The interesting story on how United Province became Uttar Pradesh|date=24 January 2018|website=Business Standard}}</ref> In 2000, the separate state of Uttaranchal, now known as [[Uttarakhand]], was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.


==See also==
==See also==
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{{EB1911|wstitle=United Provinces of Agra and Oudh}}
{{EB1911|wstitle=United Provinces of Agra and Oudh}}
{{Presidencies and provinces of British India}}
{{Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Uttarakhand}}


{{coord|26.847|N|80.947|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}
{{coord|26.847|N|80.947|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}
{{Presidencies and provinces of British India}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Uttarakhand}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:United Provinces (1937-1950)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United Provinces (1937-1950)}}
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[[Category:1950 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:1950 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Provinces of British India]]
[[Category:Provinces of British India]]
[[Category:Historical Indian regions]]
[[Category:British administration in Uttar Pradesh| ]]
[[Category:British administration in Uttar Pradesh]]

Latest revision as of 17:32, 14 March 2026


Template:Infobox Former Subdivision

The United Provinces (UP) was a province of British India and, subsequently, independent India.

History[edit | edit source]

It came into existence on 1 April 1937 as a result of the shortening of the name of the "United Provinces of Agra and Oudh". It corresponded approximately to the combined regions of the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.[1]

Provincial autonomy[edit | edit source]

The Government of India Act 1935 enlarged the elected provincial legislature and expanded provincial autonomy vis-a-vis the central government.

In the elections held in 1937, the Indian National Congress won the majority seats, but declined to form a government. Therefore, on 1 April 1937, the Nawab of Chhatari, the leader of the National Agriculturist Parties, was invited to form a minority provisional government.[2]

Minister Portfolio
Nawab of Chhatari Home Affairs
Sir Muhammad Yusuf Local Self-Government and Health
Jwala Prasad Srivastava Finance
Raja Syed Ahmad Alvi of Salempur Education
Raja Maheshwar Dayal Seth Home and Agricultural
Maharajkumar of Vizianagram Justice
Raja Durga Narayan Singh of Tirwa Industries and Communications

The Congress reversed its decision and resolved to accept office in July 1937. Therefore, the Governor Sir Harry Graham Haig invited Govind Ballabh Pant to form the government.[3][4]

Minister Portfolio
Govind Ballabh Pant Premier, Home and Finance
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Revenue and Jails
Kailash Nath Katju Justice, Development, Agriculture and Veterinary
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Local Self-government and Health
Muhammad Ibrahim Communication and Irrigation
P. L. Sharma

In 1939, all of the Congress ministries in British Indian provinces resigned and the United Provinces were placed under the Governor's rule. In 1945, the British Labour government ordered new elections to the Provincial legislatures. The Congress won a majority in the 1946 elections in the United Provinces and Pant was again the Premier, continuing even after India's independence in 1947.

Post-independence[edit | edit source]

Following independence in 1947, the princely states of Rampur, Banares and Tehri-Garwal were merged into the United Provinces. On 24 January 1950, this unit was renamed as Uttar Pradesh.[5] In 2000, the separate state of Uttaranchal, now known as Uttarakhand, was carved out of Uttar Pradesh.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Provinces of British India". www.worldstatesmen.org.
  2. "PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS (MINISTERS). (Hansard, 19 April 1937)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 April 1937.
  3. AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTIONS (PDF). Shodganga.
  4. Indian Information Series, Volumes 4-5. 1939.
  5. "UP Diwas: The interesting story on how United Province became Uttar Pradesh". Business Standard. 24 January 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "United Provinces of Agra and Oudh". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

26°50′49″N 80°56′49″E / 26.847°N 80.947°E / 26.847; 80.947