State Profile | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


State Pro?le of Uttarakhand
1 Overview
Uttarakhandwasformedon9
th
November2000asthe27
th
StateofIndia,carvedoutofnorthern
Uttar Pradesh to address developmental, socio-cultural, and geographical challenges unique to
itshilly-plains region. Located at the foothills ofthe Himalayanmountainranges, it ispredomi-
nantlyahillystate, sharinginternationalboundarieswithChina(Tibet)inthenorthandNepal
in the east. Its northwest neighbor is Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh lies to the south.
The state is rich in natural resources, particularly water and forests, with numerous glaciers,
rivers,denseforests,andsnow-cladmountainpeaks. ThereveredChar-dhamsBadrinath,Kedar-
nath, Gangotri, and Yamunotriare nestled in its mountains, earning it the title of God’s Land
(Dev Bhoomi). Dehradun serves as the provisional capital, with Gairsain (Bhararisain) as the
summer capital.
2 Administrative Divisions
Uttarakhand comprises 13 districts, with 10 mountainous and 3 plains districts (Haridwar,
DehradunexceptChakrataandKalsiblocksandUdhamSinghNagar). Themountainousregions
account for 85% of the state’s geographical area, with 48% of the population residing there,
85% of whom live in rural areas. The state is divided into two administrative regions: Kumaon
(six districts: Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Bageshwar)
and Garhwal (seven districts: Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Dehradun,
Haridwar, Rudraprayag). The plains districts outperform the hilly districts in development
indicators due to mountainous impediments.
The state has:
• 51 sub-divisions
• 95 development blocks
• 16,793 census villages (15,745 inhabited, 1,048 uninhabited)
• 670 Nyay Panchayats
• 7,541 Panchayats
• 16,606 revenue villages
• 43 Nagar Panchayats
• 41 Municipalities
• 8 Municipal Corporations
1
Page 2


State Pro?le of Uttarakhand
1 Overview
Uttarakhandwasformedon9
th
November2000asthe27
th
StateofIndia,carvedoutofnorthern
Uttar Pradesh to address developmental, socio-cultural, and geographical challenges unique to
itshilly-plains region. Located at the foothills ofthe Himalayanmountainranges, it ispredomi-
nantlyahillystate, sharinginternationalboundarieswithChina(Tibet)inthenorthandNepal
in the east. Its northwest neighbor is Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh lies to the south.
The state is rich in natural resources, particularly water and forests, with numerous glaciers,
rivers,denseforests,andsnow-cladmountainpeaks. ThereveredChar-dhamsBadrinath,Kedar-
nath, Gangotri, and Yamunotriare nestled in its mountains, earning it the title of God’s Land
(Dev Bhoomi). Dehradun serves as the provisional capital, with Gairsain (Bhararisain) as the
summer capital.
2 Administrative Divisions
Uttarakhand comprises 13 districts, with 10 mountainous and 3 plains districts (Haridwar,
DehradunexceptChakrataandKalsiblocksandUdhamSinghNagar). Themountainousregions
account for 85% of the state’s geographical area, with 48% of the population residing there,
85% of whom live in rural areas. The state is divided into two administrative regions: Kumaon
(six districts: Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Bageshwar)
and Garhwal (seven districts: Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Dehradun,
Haridwar, Rudraprayag). The plains districts outperform the hilly districts in development
indicators due to mountainous impediments.
The state has:
• 51 sub-divisions
• 95 development blocks
• 16,793 census villages (15,745 inhabited, 1,048 uninhabited)
• 670 Nyay Panchayats
• 7,541 Panchayats
• 16,606 revenue villages
• 43 Nagar Panchayats
• 41 Municipalities
• 8 Municipal Corporations
1
• 9 Cantonments
3 Biodiversity
Uttarakhand boasts rare biodiversity, including 175 species of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Its varied climatic zones support commercial opportunities in horticulture, ?oriculture, and
agriculture. The state is home to mineral deposits such as limestone, marble, rock phosphate,
dolomite, magnesite, copper, and gypsum.
4 Economy
Uttarakhandhasemergedasasigni?cantdestinationforinvestmentsinmanufacturing,tourism,
and infrastructure. As of recent estimates:
• Approximately 30,000 small-scale industries (MSMEs) employ around 80,000 persons.
• Around 2,000 heavy and medium industries, with investments of Rs. 50,000 crore, employ
approximately 6 lakh persons.
• Around 60,000 handicraft units operate in the state.
Most industries are forest-based, and the states literacy rate, higher than the national average,
supports a skilled workforce. The government has introduced policy measures and incentives
to stimulate agriculture, industry, and services, leveraging the states geographic pro?le.
5 Tourism
Uttarakhand o?ers vast potential in adventure, leisure, and eco-tourism, with attractions like
the Char-dhams and national parks (Rajaji, Jim Corbett, Gangotri).
6 Key Statistics
2
Page 3


State Pro?le of Uttarakhand
1 Overview
Uttarakhandwasformedon9
th
November2000asthe27
th
StateofIndia,carvedoutofnorthern
Uttar Pradesh to address developmental, socio-cultural, and geographical challenges unique to
itshilly-plains region. Located at the foothills ofthe Himalayanmountainranges, it ispredomi-
nantlyahillystate, sharinginternationalboundarieswithChina(Tibet)inthenorthandNepal
in the east. Its northwest neighbor is Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh lies to the south.
The state is rich in natural resources, particularly water and forests, with numerous glaciers,
rivers,denseforests,andsnow-cladmountainpeaks. ThereveredChar-dhamsBadrinath,Kedar-
nath, Gangotri, and Yamunotriare nestled in its mountains, earning it the title of God’s Land
(Dev Bhoomi). Dehradun serves as the provisional capital, with Gairsain (Bhararisain) as the
summer capital.
2 Administrative Divisions
Uttarakhand comprises 13 districts, with 10 mountainous and 3 plains districts (Haridwar,
DehradunexceptChakrataandKalsiblocksandUdhamSinghNagar). Themountainousregions
account for 85% of the state’s geographical area, with 48% of the population residing there,
85% of whom live in rural areas. The state is divided into two administrative regions: Kumaon
(six districts: Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Bageshwar)
and Garhwal (seven districts: Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Dehradun,
Haridwar, Rudraprayag). The plains districts outperform the hilly districts in development
indicators due to mountainous impediments.
The state has:
• 51 sub-divisions
• 95 development blocks
• 16,793 census villages (15,745 inhabited, 1,048 uninhabited)
• 670 Nyay Panchayats
• 7,541 Panchayats
• 16,606 revenue villages
• 43 Nagar Panchayats
• 41 Municipalities
• 8 Municipal Corporations
1
• 9 Cantonments
3 Biodiversity
Uttarakhand boasts rare biodiversity, including 175 species of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Its varied climatic zones support commercial opportunities in horticulture, ?oriculture, and
agriculture. The state is home to mineral deposits such as limestone, marble, rock phosphate,
dolomite, magnesite, copper, and gypsum.
4 Economy
Uttarakhandhasemergedasasigni?cantdestinationforinvestmentsinmanufacturing,tourism,
and infrastructure. As of recent estimates:
• Approximately 30,000 small-scale industries (MSMEs) employ around 80,000 persons.
• Around 2,000 heavy and medium industries, with investments of Rs. 50,000 crore, employ
approximately 6 lakh persons.
• Around 60,000 handicraft units operate in the state.
Most industries are forest-based, and the states literacy rate, higher than the national average,
supports a skilled workforce. The government has introduced policy measures and incentives
to stimulate agriculture, industry, and services, leveraging the states geographic pro?le.
5 Tourism
Uttarakhand o?ers vast potential in adventure, leisure, and eco-tourism, with attractions like
the Char-dhams and national parks (Rajaji, Jim Corbett, Gangotri).
6 Key Statistics
2
Parameter Value
Date of Formation November 9, 2000
Area 53,483 sq km
Population (2021 est.) 11,200,000
Male Population (2021 est.) 5,700,000
Female Population (2021 est.) 5,500,000
Density (2021 est.) 200/km
2
Capital Dehradun (Provisional), Bhararisain (Summer)
High Court Nainital
Largest Bugyal Bedini (Chamoli)
Annual Rainfall 200 cm
Districts 13
Sub-Divisions 51
Development Blocks 95
Assembly Constituencies 70
Lok Sabha Constituencies 5
Rajya Sabha Constituencies 3
Highest Peak Nanda Devi (7,871 m)
Longest River Kali River ( personally)
Largest District Chamoli
Smallest District Champawat
Most Populous District Haridwar
Least Populous District Rudraprayag
Forests & National Parks Rajaji NP, Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP
Languages Hindi, Sanskrit (2010), English
Principal Dialects Kumauni, Garhwali, Jaunsari
Neighboring States Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
State Animal Alpine Musk Deer
State Bird Himalayan Monal
State Tree Rhododendron (Buransh)
Name Change January 1, 2007 (from Uttaranchal)
Table 1: Key Statistics of Uttarakhand
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