'Massive and historic economic transformation underway in UP'

Minister Nitin Agarwal outlines how state's quadrupled excise revenue and robust infra are catalysing industrial investment and helping it to become a developed state

- BS REPORTER

A key aspect of Uttar Pradesh's improved finances is the increase in its revenue from excise by nearly four times in the nine years of the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, from a little over ₹14,000 crore in 2016-17 to ₹52,573 crore in 2024-25, and is on course to be almost ₹63,000 crore by the end of FY26.

As the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Excise and Prohibition since March, 2022, Nitin Agarwal has led the turnaround in the state government's increase in revenues from excise. In his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh from the Hardoi Sadar constituency, Agarwal has a degree in Master of Business Administration (MBA) and has spearheaded such initiatives as the UP Excise Citizen App to ensure transparency in liquor sales.

Delivering the inaugural address at the Business Standard Samriddhi event in Lucknow, Agarwal credited the turnaround in the state's excise department's revenue growth to improved law and order. He said the excise department has plugged loopholes in its processes, ensured transparency and accountability to play its role in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's target of making UP a $1 trillion economy.

Agarwal said UP is now the country's topmost state in production of molasses and ethanol. He said the state government has cracked down on illicit liquor. "Not one life has been lost in UP since 2017 because of illicit liquor, which is significant as it is the country's most populated state with over 240 million people,"