<P> Due to dissatisfaction with British rule , a serious rebellion erupted in various parts of North India ; Bengal regiment 's sepoy stationed at Meerut cantonment , Mangal Pandey , is widely credited as its starting point . It came to be known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 . After the revolt failed , the British attempted to divide the most rebellious regions by reorganising the administrative boundaries of the region , splitting the Delhi region from ' NWFP of Agra ' and merging it with Punjab , while the Ajmer - Marwar region was merged with Rajputana and Oudh was incorporated into the state . The new state was called the ' North Western Provinces of Agra and Oudh ' , which in 1902 was renamed as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh . It was commonly referred to as the United Provinces or its acronym UP . </P>
what was the state of uttar pradesh known as before independence
the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh