World Bank president Ajay Banga holds talks with UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow

World Bank President Ajay Banga visited Uttar Pradesh's capital, Lucknow, on Friday for a day-long trip filled with meetings and events.

The visit highlighted the state's rapid economic progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as it works towards its goal of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy.

According to a statement from the Uttar Pradesh government, the state has become synonymous with enterprise, advancement, progress, and excellent law and order, solidifying its role as "the growth engine of the country."

The statement also emphasized the increasing interest of global institutions in partnering with Uttar Pradesh on this journey.

During his visit, Banga traveled to Lucknow and Barabanki district, where he attended various programs and meetings. He visited the Take Home Ration (THR) plant at Chinhat Block and later went to a beekeeping center in Rajauli, Barabanki, where he interacted with women beekeepers. In the evening, Banga took part in a reserved program before heading back to Delhi.

On Thursday, Banga also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where infrastructure and agriculture were key topics discussed.

In a related report, the World Bank highlighted India’s significant reduction in extreme poverty over the past decade. According to their recent Poverty & Equity Brief, the percentage of people living on less than USD 2.15 per day fell dramatically from 16.2 percent in 2011-12 to 2.3 percent in 2022-23, lifting 171 million people above the poverty line.

This progress reflects the success of Prime Minister Modi's poverty reduction efforts. Rural extreme poverty dropped from 18.4 percent to 2.8 percent, while urban poverty fell from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent, narrowing the rural-urban gap from 7.7 to 1.7 percentage points.