India, Dec. 31 -- Two numbers-800 and 8,000-have come to symbolise Uttar Pradesh's changing industrial landscape. Far from being mere statistics, they reflect a deeper structural shift that has helped the state move away from its long-standing "BIMARU" image and position itself as one of India's faster-growing economic centres.

2012-17: A Period of Slow Growth

During the tenure of the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav between 2012 and 2017, Uttar Pradesh reportedly added around 800 large factories. While the period saw ambitious plans such as IT cities and expressway projects, the broader industrial ecosystem struggled to gain momentum.

Issues related to law and order, coupled with bureaucratic delays, were cited as majo...