United Provinces of British India


The United Provinces of British India, more commonly known as the United Provinces, was a province of British India, which came into existence on 3 January 1921 as a result of the renaming 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. It ceased to exist on 1 April 1937 when it was renamed as the United Provinces. Lucknow became its capital some time after 1921.

Administrative divisions

The United Provinces of British India included 9 divisions with 48 districts.
The Government of India Act 1919 expanded the United Provinces Legislative Council to 123 seats include more elected Indian members. The reforms also introduced the principle of dyarchy, whereby certain responsibilities such as agriculture, health, education, and local government, were transferred to elected ministers. However, the important portfolios like finance, police and irrigation were reserved with members of the Governor's Executive Council. Some of the prominent members and ministers in the United Provinces were Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan, C. Y. Chintamani and Jagat Narain Mulla.