Lucknow, August 28, 2025 – Uttar Pradesh has made a strong showing in the country’s manufacturing world. The latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2023-24 ranks the state among the top five in terms of both the number of factories and employment. This news comes just a day after the government released the data, highlighting how UP is becoming a key player in India’s industrial growth.
The ASI, run by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, looks at factories across India from April 2023 to March 2024. It covers everything from the number of jobs they create to the amount of money they generate. Nationally, things are looking up. Employment in these factories jumped by 5.92 percent to about 1.96 crore people. That’s over 57 lakh new jobs added in the last ten years. The total value added by manufacturing grew by 11.89 percent to more than 24 lakh crore rupees. Output went up by 5.8 percent, reaching 153 lakh crore rupees.
When it comes to factories, India has 2.6 lakh of them in total. Tamil Nadu leads with 15.43 percent, followed by Gujarat at 12.81 percent, Maharashtra at 10.20 percent, and then Uttar Pradesh with 8.51 percent. That puts UP in fourth place. Andhra Pradesh rounds out the top five at 6.16 percent. This is a big deal for UP, which has been pushing hard to attract businesses. Just think about it, the state now hosts over 22,000 factories, a solid chunk of the national pie.
On the jobs front, the story is similar. UP ranks fourth again, with 8.30 percent of the total workforce in manufacturing. That’s behind Tamil Nadu (15.24 percent), Gujarat (13.07 percent), and Maharashtra (12.95 percent). Karnataka comes in fifth at 6.29 percent. Together, these five states provide jobs for about 55 percent of all manufacturing workers in India. For UP, this means millions of people are finding work in factories, helping families and boosting local economies.
But it’s not just about numbers of factories and jobs. The survey also looks at output and value added. Here, UP ranks fifth in both. For output, it has 7.19 percent of the total, after Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana. In gross value added, that’s basically the profit after costs, UP has 6.80 percent, trailing Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The top five states make up 54 percent of the country’s manufacturing value.
What’s behind UP’s rise? Experts point to the state’s efforts to make it easier for companies to set up shop. Things like better roads, power supply, and incentives for investors have helped. The government has been promoting industrial parks and special economic zones. Plus, UP’s large population provides a ready workforce. Compared to last year’s survey, the national growth shows the sector is bouncing back strong after tough times like the pandemic. In 2022-23, the top states were similar, but UP’s shares have held steady or improved slightly, showing consistent progress.
This success has ripple effects. More factories mean more taxes for the state, which can go into schools, hospitals, and other services. It also helps reduce migration as people find jobs closer to home. But challenges remain. UP isn’t in the top five for invested capital, where Gujarat and Maharashtra dominate. That suggests room to attract bigger investments.
State officials are thrilled. “This ranking proves our policies are working,” said a government spokesperson. “We’re committed to climbing even higher.” With India’s economy growing, UP’s industrial push could help the whole country.
As the dust settles on this report, one thing is clear, Uttar Pradesh is no longer just an agricultural giant. It’s carving out a spot in manufacturing too, creating opportunities for millions.
