View source for Kanpur

{{short description|Metropolis in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Kanpur
| native_name_lang   = <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per WP:INDICSCRIPT policy. -->
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 300
| image_style              =
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/2/2
| image1 = J.K._Temple_(cropped).jpg
| caption1 = [[JK Temple|Juggilal Kamlapat Temple]]
| image8 = Kanpur Skyscrapers.jpg
| caption8 = City skyline
| image3 = Kanpur Central Railway Station Building (Cant Side View).jpg
| caption3 = [[Kanpur Central railway station|Kanpur Central Railway Station]]
| image4 = Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.jpg
| caption4 = [[IIT Kanpur]]
| image5 = Kanpur Memorial Church.jpg
| caption5 = [[Kanpur Memorial Church]]
| image6 = Green Park International Stadium Kanpur.jpg
| caption6 = [[Green Park Stadium]]
| image7 = CSJM University.jpg
| caption7 = CSJM University
| image2 = Kanpur Boat Club 1.jpg
| caption2 = Ganga Riverfront Kanpur
| image9 = Mohammadan Orphanage.jpg
| caption9 = Mohammadan Orphanage Kanpur
}}
| nicknames           = Heart of Uttar Pradesh<br/> Leather City of the World<ref name="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2012/entries/187163/view/">{{cite web |url=http://www.iloveindia.com/travel/kanpur/index.html |title=Kanpur India – Kanpur Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur City, Kanpur Guide, Kanpur Location |publisher=Iloveindia.com |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122112235/http://www.iloveindia.com/travel/kanpur/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> <br/>Manchester of the East<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.facts-about-india.com/nick-name-indian-places.php |title=Nick Name of Indian Places |publisher=Facts-about-india.com |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221230304/http://www.facts-about-india.com/nick-name-indian-places.php |archive-date=21 February 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
| map_alt            = Kanpur
| map_caption        = Kanpur
| pushpin_map        = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt    = Kanpur City
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Kanpur in [[Uttar Pradesh]]##Location of Kanpur in India
| coordinates        = {{coord|26.449923|N|80.331874|E|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_type2  = [[Divisions of Uttar Pradesh|Division]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagicon image|Seal of Uttar Pradesh.svg}} [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kanpur Division]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Kanpur Nagar District|Kanpur]]
| founder            = Hindu Singh Chandel<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wright |first=FN |title=Statistical Descriptive And Historical Account Of The North-western Provinces Of India |date=1881 |volume=6 |pages=226}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body     = [[Kanpur Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_party       = [[Bhartiya Janta Party|BJP]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Kanpur|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Pramila Pandey
| leader_title1      = [[Municipal commissioner]]
| leader_name1       = Shivasharanappa G N, [[Indian Administrative Services|IAS]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| elevation_m        = 126
| total_type         = Kanpur Metro
| area_total_km2     = 403
| area_blank1_title  = Kanpur City
| area_blank1_km2    = 108.63
| population_total   = 4,581,268 (estimate)
| population_metro   = 5,230,000 (estimate)
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_density_km2 = 9800
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/131-kanpur.html|title=Kanpur Population 2023|website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref>
| population_metro_footnotes = 
| population_rank    = [[List of cities in India by population|12th]]
| population_blank1_title = Metro rank
| population_blank1  = [[List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India|11th]]
| population_demonym = {{hlist|Kanpuriya}}
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| demographics_type1 = [[Language]]
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=https://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=12 February 2019 |page=49 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Additional&nbsp;official
| demographics1_info2 = [[English language|English]],<ref name="langoff" /> [[Urdu language|Urdu]]
| demographics1_title3 = Regional
| demographics1_info3 = Kanpuri dialect<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/awa |title=Awadhi |website=[[Ethnologue]] |access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|Pincode(s)]]
| postal_code        = 2080xx /2092xx
| area_code          = [[Telephone numbers in India|+91-512]]
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| registration_plate = UP-78
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Gross domestic product|GDP Nominal]]
| blank_info_sec1    = $11&nbsp;billion<ref name="UttarPradesh_gdp">{{Cite web |title=District Domestic Product Per Capita |url=https://updes.up.nic.in/updes/data/sdiaryenglish/files/diary%20eng%202021_merged.pdf |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Gross domestic product|Per capita]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = $2,800 ([[₹]]2.45 [[lakh]])<ref name="UttarPradesh_gdp" />
| blank2_name_sec1   = [[Gross domestic product|GDP Nominal]] ([[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur Nagar District]])
| blank2_info_sec1   = ₹90,172 [[crore]] (2024–25)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Records |first1=Official |title=District Domestic Product Estimates Uttar Pradesh Year 2020–21 |url=https://updes.up.nic.in/esd/Book/DDP2020-21(T)MARCH22%20%20new%20web.pdf |website=Directorate of Economics And Statistics Government Of Uttar Pradesh |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref>
| blank3_name_sec1   = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank3_info_sec1   = 932 [[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]
| blank4_name_sec1   = Effective literacy rate (2025)
| blank4_info_sec1   = 86.46%
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]
| blank4_info_sec2   = {{increase}} 0.675<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Padam|last1=Singh|first2=Satyendra|last2=Keshari|url=https://ssca.org.in/media/4_2016_HDI_t1hcMZm.pdf|title=Development of Human Development Index at District Level for EAG States|journal=Statistics and Applications|date=8 March 2016|issn=2454-7395|volume=14|issue=1–2|pages=43–61|access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619103221/http://www.ssca.org.in/media/4_2016_HDI_t1hcMZm.pdf |archive-date=19 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{color|green|medium}})
| blank1_info_sec2   = 
| website            = {{official website|kanpurnagar.nic.in}}
| unemployment_rate  = 
| pushpin_label      = Kanpur
| name               = 
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Rapid Transit]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = [[File:UPMRC.svg|20px|UPMRC Logo|alt=UPMRC Logo]] [[Kanpur Metro]]
| blank3_name_sec2   = [[Domestic Airport]]
| blank3_info_sec2   = [[Kanpur Airport]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Cricket field|International Stadium]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Green Park Stadium|Green Park]]
| blank1_name_sec2   = 
}}

'''Kanpur''' ({{IPA|[[Help:IPA/English|/kɑːnˈpʊər/]]|audio=kanpur.ogg}}, {{IPA|hi|kaːn̪.puɾ}}), originally named '''Kanhapur'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kanpurdehat.nic.in/about-district/#:~:text=Name%20Kanpur%20is%20a%20transformed,he%20changed%20it%20to%20Cawnpore | title=About District &#124; Kanpur Dehat Uttar Pradesh Government &#124; India }}</ref> and formerly anglicized as '''Cawnpore''', is the second largest city of the Indian [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]], after Lucknow. Founded by [[Rajput]] ruler Hindu Singh Chandel, Kanpur became one of the most important commercial and military stations of [[British Raj]]. <ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://klpl.in/aboutus.html|title=Welcome to Kanpur Logistics Park Pvt. Ltd.|website=klpl.in|access-date=7 February 2021|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718042102/http://www.klpl.in/aboutus.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{cite news |title=From Kanhiyapur to Kanpur in 210 years {{!}} Kanpur News – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/from-kanhiyapur-to-kanpur-in-210-years/articleshow/19166755.cms |work=The Times of India |date=24 March 2013 |language=en}}</ref> Today it is famous for its colonial architecture, gardens, sweets, dialect, and high-quality [[leather]], [[plastic]], and [[textile]] products, which are exported mainly to the [[Western world|West]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ramblinginthecity.com/tag/kanpur/|title=Kanpur|website=ramblinginthecity}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transindiatravels.com/uttar-pradesh/kanpur/tourist-places-to-visit-in-kanpur/|title=Top 7 Places To Visit In Kanpur – Trans India Travels|website=www.transindiatravels.com|date=6 December 2016}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The city is home to historical monuments such as the Jajmau Ghat which dates back to the 17th century AD. Kanpur is also home to several historical sites such as the [[Kanpur Sangrahalaya|Kanpur Museum]], [[Bhitargaon]] Temple, European Cemetery and [[Nanarao Park]].

It is the [[List of cities in India by population|12th most populous city]] and the [[List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India|11th most populous urban agglomeration]] in India ([[2011 census of India|2011 census]]). Kanpur was an important British [[garrison]] town until 1947, when India gained independence. The urban district of [[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur ''Nagar'']] serves as the headquarters of the [[Kanpur division]], Kanpur Range and Kanpur Zone.

Some of the more popular places in Kanpur include [[JK Temple|J.K. Temple]], [[Z Square Mall, Kanpur|Z Square Mall]], Blue World Amusement Park, Atal Ghat, [[Green Park Stadium]] and [[Ganges Barrage|Ganga Barrage]].

It was the most populous urban city in the 2011 Indian census and the largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh, while the population of city and its suburbs were around 5 million, making it the [[List of most populous metropolitan areas in India|eighth-most populous metropolitan area]] in India.

== History ==
The city of Kanpur is widely believed to have been founded by [[Raja]] Hindu Singh Chandel of the Sachendi state. Its original name was Kanhpur,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kanpur History - History of Kanpur City- History of Kanpur India |url=http://www.journeymart.com/de/india/uttar-pradesh/kanpur-history.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702060614/http://www.journeymart.com/de/india/uttar-pradesh/kanpur-history.aspx |archive-date=2 July 2015 |access-date=29 July 2015 |publisher=Journeymart.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Man |url=http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/26681/8/Chapter%207_479-525p.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702143405/http://dspace.wbpublibnet.gov.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10689/26681/8/Chapter%207_479-525p.pdf |archive-date=2 July 2015 |access-date=29 July 2015 |publisher=Dspace.wbpublisher.gov.in |page=479}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} District Kanpur Nagar, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://kanpurnagar.nic.in/history/ |access-date=2025-09-04 |language=en-US}}</ref> possibly derived from Kanhiyapur or established to commemorate the Kanhaiya Ashtam festival, a day the Raja considered auspicious. An alternative theory suggests the name is a variation of Karnapur, linking it to the [[Mahabharata]] hero, [[Karna]]. In its early stages, Kanpur was a collection of smaller villages, including Patkapura, Kuraswam, Juhi, and Seesamau.<ref name=":18" />

Before the arrival of the British, the region was governed by the rulers of [[Kannauj]] and [[Kalpi]] such as Harsha Vardhan, Jai Chand and [[Mihir Bhoja]],{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} and later by various Muslim rulers. The strategic importance of the area was recognized by the British following their victory over [[Shuja-ud-Daula]], the [[Nawab of Awadh]], near [[Jajmau]] in May 1765. Although Kanpur remained part of the [[Oudh State|Oudh Kingdom]] until 1801, a British military camp was established there as early as 1778.<ref name=":19">{{Cite news |date=2013-03-24 |title=From Kanhiyapur to Kanpur in 210 years |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/from-kanhiyapur-to-kanpur-in-210-years/articleshow/19166755.cms |access-date=2025-09-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

The official transfer to British control occurred through the Treaty of 1801 with Nawab [[Saadat Ali Khan II|Saadat Ali Khan]]. This marked a turning point in Kanpur's history, as the British began to develop it into a major hub. Leveraging its strategic location on the banks of the [[Ganges]], the [[East India Company]] initiated an [[Indigo dye|indigo trade]]. The city's growth was further accelerated by major infrastructure projects, including the construction of the [[Grand Trunk Road]] in 1832 and the addition of roads connecting it to [[Lucknow]] and Kalpi in 1864.<ref name=":19" />

With the first woollen mill of [[British Raj|India]], commonly known as the Lal Imli ({{literally|Red Tamarind}}, for a brand produced by the mill) by the [[British India Corporation]] established here in 1876 by [[Sir Alexander MacRobert, 1st Baronet|Alexander MacRobert]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} The eastern and northern [[façade]]s of the mill are reminiscent of the [[Palace of Westminster]], due to their architecture, proximity to the [[Ganga]] river and with the north-east corner of the mill being topped by a clock tower similar to [[Big Ben]] in [[London]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} This similarity underscores the city's importance and prestige during [[British Raj|British rule]], and extending to the present, making the Lal Imli a highlight of the city. The city is also widely regarded as the ''Leather City of the World'' and is predominantly nicknamed as the ''Manchester of the East'', for its chemical, textile and leather industries. Alexander MacRobert has an area named after him in the city, [[McRobertganj]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===1857 Uprising===
{{main|Siege of Cawnpore}}
[[File:Kanpur from the river.jpg|thumb|left|Kanpur from the river in 1858]]
In the 19th century, Cawnpore was an important [[Kanpur Cantonment|British garrison]] with barracks for 7,000 soldiers. During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], 900 British men, women and children [[Siege of Cawnpore|were besieged]] in the fortifications for 22 days by rebels under [[Nana Saheb Peshwa II|Nana Sahib]]. They surrendered on the agreement that they would get safe passage to the nearby [[Massacre Ghat|Sati Chaura Ghat]] whereupon they would board barges and be allowed to go by river to [[Allahabad]].<ref name="caleb_wright_historic">{{cite book | last =  Wright | first = Caleb | title = Historic Incidents and Life in India | orig-year = 1863 | url = https://archive.org/details/historicinciden00braigoog | publisher = J. A. Brainerd | isbn = 978-1-135-72312-5 | page = [https://archive.org/details/historicinciden00braigoog/page/n328 239] | year =  1863}}</ref>

Though controversy surrounds what exactly happened at the Sati Chaura Ghat and who fired the first shot, it is known that soon afterwards the departing British were shot at by the [[sepoys]] and were either killed or captured. Some of the British officers later claimed that the sepoys had, on purpose, placed the boats as high in the mud as possible, to cause delay. They also claimed that Sahib's camp had previously arranged for the sepoys to fire upon and to kill all of the English. Although the East India Company later accused Sahib of betrayal and murder of innocent people, no evidence has ever been found to prove that he planned or ordered the massacre. Some historians believe that the Sati Chaura Ghat massacre was the result of confusion and not of any plan implemented by Sahib or his associates. Lieutenant Mowbray Thomson, one of the four male survivors of the massacre, believed that the rank-and-file sepoys who spoke to him did not know of the killing to come.<ref>{{cite book | last = Sen | first = Surendra Nath | title = Eighteen Fifty-seven | orig-year = 1957 | year = 1995 | publisher = Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India | isbn = 978-81-230-0093-0 | page = 145 }}</ref>

Many were killed and the remaining 200 British women and children were brought back to shore and sent to a building called the ''Bibighar'' ('House of the Ladies'). After some time, the commanders of the rebels decided to kill their hostages. The rebel soldiers refused to carry out orders and butchers from the nearby town were brought in to kill the hostages three days before the British entered the city on 18 July. The dismembered bodies were thrown into a deep well nearby. The British, under [[James George Smith Neill|General Neill]], retook the city and committed a series of retaliations against the rebel sepoys and those civilians caught in the area, including women, children and old men. The [[Cawnpore Massacre]], as well as similar events elsewhere, were seen by the British as justification for unrestrained vengeance.<ref>[[William Dalrymple (historian)|Dalrymple, W.]] 2007. ''The Last Mughal. The Fall of a Dynasty'': Delhi, 1857, Alfred Knopf, New York</ref> "Remember Cawnpore" became a British war cry for the rest of the war.

== Geography ==
[[File:Ganga Barrage Kanpur.jpg|thumb|Kanpur is situated on the right bank of the [[Ganga]]]]
Kanpur is located at {{coord|26.449923|N|80.331874|E}} in the central-western part of the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The city lies at a distance of approx 484&nbsp;km from national capital [[New Delhi]] and approx 80&nbsp;km from the state capital [[Lucknow]]. It is a part of the historical region of [[Awadh]].

Situated in the flat [[Indo-Gangetic Plain]]s, Kanpur has an average elevation of 318&nbsp;m above sea level.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Kanpur, India |url=https://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/09/Kanpur.html |website=www.fallingrain.com |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> The [[Ganga]] flows by the city and several [[ghat]]s are located on its banks, notably the [[Sati Chaura Ghat]] and Sarsaiya Ghat. The Brahmavart Ghat located at [[Bithoor]] (25&nbsp;km northwards) is another ghat of religious importance.

Several parks and recreational areas are located in Kanpur. [[Nana Rao Park]] and [[Phool Bagh]] are among the prominent parks in city that have existed from the time of the British Raj. The [[Moti Jheel]], a rectangular lake, was originally developed as a drinking water reservoir. The lake has now been developed as a recreational area with a landscaped garden and a children's park. [[Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary]] is also located near Kanpur.

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Uttar Pradesh}}
Like most of lowland northern India, Kanpur has a monsoon-influenced [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cwa'') bordering on a [[semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|hot semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'') under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. Kanpur sees an annual precipitation of {{Convert|865–900|mm|abbr=on}}. The [[southwest monsoon]] enters around 20–23 June, and total precipitation from the monsoon is {{Convert|750–800|mm|abbr=on}}. Southwest monsoon withdrawal takes place generally between the last week of September and the first week of October. The month of October also saw heavy monsoon rains in the years 1971 (133&nbsp;mm), 1985 (367&nbsp;mm), 1999 (137&nbsp;mm), 2013 (143&nbsp;mm), and 2022 (225&nbsp;mm), and 2024 also saw significant rain showers.

The years 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018–2022 and 2024 were ones when annual precipitation reached at least {{Convert|1000|mm|abbr=on}}.

 {{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = [[Kanpur Airport]] (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| temperature colour =
| Jan record high C = 31.1
| Feb record high C = 35.6
| Mar record high C = 42.8
| Apr record high C = 45.6
| May record high C = 47.2
| Jun record high C = 47.3
| Jul record high C = 45.0
| Aug record high C = 40.6
| Sep record high C = 40.0
| Oct record high C = 40.6
| Nov record high C = 36.1
| Dec record high C = 31.3
| year record high C = 47.3
| Jan high C = 22.3
| Feb high C = 25.8
| Mar high C = 30.7
| Apr high C = 37.0
| May high C = 40.3
| Jun high C = 39.2
| Jul high C = 34.7
| Aug high C = 32.9
| Sep high C = 32.8
| Oct high C = 32.9
| Nov high C = 28.3
| Dec high C = 24.1
| year high C = 31.5
| Jan mean C = 15.2
| Feb mean C = 18.3
| Mar mean C = 22.8
| Apr mean C = 28.5
| May mean C = 32.8
| Jun mean C = 33.3
| Jul mean C = 30.8
| Aug mean C = 29.4
| Sep mean C = 28.5
| Oct mean C = 25.4
| Nov mean C = 20.6
| Dec mean C = 16.6
| year mean C = 25.15
| Jan low C = 8.0
| Feb low C = 10.8
| Mar low C = 14.8
| Apr low C = 20.0
| May low C = 25.4
| Jun low C = 27.4
| Jul low C = 27.0
| Aug low C = 26.0
| Sep low C = 24.2
| Oct low C = 18.0
| Nov low C = 13.0
| Dec low C = 9.0
| year low C = 18.3
| Jan record low C = 1.6
| Feb record low C = 0.6
| Mar record low C = 7.2
| Apr record low C = 11.1
| May record low C = 16.4
| Jun record low C = 20.6
| Jul record low C = 21.7
| Aug record low C = 21.7
| Sep record low C = 11.8
| Oct record low C = 4.6
| Nov record low C = 0.5
| Dec record low C = -0.9
| year record low C = -0.9
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 22.7
| Feb rain mm = 14.0
| Mar rain mm = 8.9
| Apr rain mm = 5.9
| May rain mm = 10.3
| Jun rain mm = 84.0
| Jul rain mm = 260.0
| Aug rain mm = 235.0
| Sep rain mm = 166.0
| Oct rain mm = 33.4
| Nov rain mm = 6.0
| Dec rain mm = 4.7
|year rain mm = 864.5
| Jan rain days = 1.9
| Feb rain days = 1.1
| Mar rain days = 1.5
| Apr rain days = 0.7
| May rain days = 1.4
| Jun rain days = 4.7
| Jul rain days = 11.2
| Aug rain days = 10.8
| Sep rain days = 5.9
| Oct rain days = 1.3
| Nov rain days = 0.5
| Dec rain days = 0.3
|year rain days = 41.4
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 56
| Feb humidity = 53
| Mar humidity = 43
| Apr humidity = 30
| May humidity = 31
| Jun humidity = 45
| Jul humidity = 66
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 70
| Oct humidity = 55
| Nov humidity = 61
| Dec humidity = 60
| year humidity = 54
| source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDcityextremes2>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230101061732/https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| archive-date = 1 January 2023
| title = Climatological Tables 1991-2020
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = 1 January 2023
| page = 21}}</ref>
}}

Kanpur has been ranked the fifth best ''National Clean Air City'' in India under Category 1 (cities with populations greater than {{Lakh|10}}) by the [[Central Pollution Control Board]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawhney |first=Kriti |date=2025-06-18 |title=Kanpur's Air Gets Cleaner, City Secures Spot In Top 5 Nationwide! |url=https://www.kanpurwants.com/trending-now/kanpurs-air-gets-cleaner-city-secures-spot-in-top-5-nationwide |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=KanpurWants |language=en}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Historical population
| 1901 | 202797
| 1911 | 178557
| 1921 | 216436
| 1931 | 219189
| 1941 | 452495
| 1951 | 646811
| 1961 | 892468
| 1971 | 1160026
| 1981 | 1489301
| 1991 | 1874409
| 2001 | 2551337
| 2011 | 2765348
|2021  | 3104000}}
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Kanpur (2011)<ref name="C-01"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|78.03}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Uttar Pradesh|Islam]]|green|19.85}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|darkkhaki|1.01}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|blue|0.46}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|Black|0.47}}}}

{{further|Ethnic communities in Kanpur|List of people from Kanpur}}

As per the provisional results of the 2011 census, [[Kanpur Nagar district]] has a population of 4,581,000.<ref name="Kanpur City">{{Cite web|url=https://kanpursmartcity.org/about-us|title=Kanpur Smart City|website=kanpursmartcity.org}}</ref><ref name="Cities1Lakhandabove">{{cite web | url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|title=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011; Cities having population 1 lakh and above | publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507135928/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 May 2012 | access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref> The literacy rate was 79.65 per cent and the sex ratio was 862.<ref name='Kanpur City'/><ref name="kanpuruapop2011">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf|title=Urban agglomerations/cities having population 1 million and above|year=2011|work=Provisional population totals, census of India 2011|publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|access-date=26 January 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215163132/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2011}}</ref> There are 35 [[Parsis]] in Kanpur with their [[fire temple]] at [[The Mall, Kanpur|The Mall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zoroastrians.net/2014/02/05/appeal-cawnpore-parsee-anjuman-kanpur/ |title=Appeal – Cawnpore Parsee Anjuman, Kanpur &#124; Parsis, Iranis, Zarathushtis - ALL Under One Roof |date=5 February 2014 |publisher=Zoroastrians.net |access-date=29 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220439/http://zoroastrians.net/2014/02/05/appeal-cawnpore-parsee-anjuman-kanpur/ |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Hinduism is the majority religion in Kanpur with a sizeable minority of [[Muslims]]. Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists are below 2% combined.<ref name="C-01">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Uttar Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11394/download/14507/DDW09C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

Although final 2023 census data is yet to be declared,{{When|date=October 2025}} the population of Kanpur Nagar district is projected to be 6,367,963 in 2023 (per [[aadhaar]] data).

As per the 2011 census, the population of Kanpur city and its suburbs was 3,015,645, making it the largest urban agglomeration of Uttar Pradesh. Thereafter, the urban area of Kanpur city has expanded to a large extent. However, the official limits of the area are still pending approval by the Government. Tentatively, the population of Kanpur city and Kanpur metropolitan area in 2024 are projected as 3,926,000 and 5,100,000 respectively as per available data.

{{Clear}}[[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] is the native dialect. [[Hindi]] and [[Urdu]] are the predominant languages in the city. [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] is spoken by 1.25%, while [[Bengali language|Bengali]] is spoken by over 11,000 people in the city.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue (Town level): Uttar Pradesh |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10235/download/13347/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-0900.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:left;"
! colspan="2" | Local officials
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|[[Divisional Commissioner]]
| Amit Gupta
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|[[District Magistrate]]
| Vishakh G. Iyer<ref name=":02">{{cite web|title=Contact Details Of Commissioners and District Magistrates Of U.P.|url=http://uphome.gov.in/DM-UP-Contact.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816061300/http://uphome.gov.in/DM-UP-Contact.htm|archive-date=16 August 2017|access-date=15 August 2017|website=[[Department of Home (Uttar Pradesh)|Department of Home and Confidential]], [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite web|script-title=hi:जिलाधिकारी/मंडलायुक्त की सूची|trans-title=List of District Magistrates and Divisional Commissioners|url=http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/DOCUMENTS/DMCFileCurrent.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210045547/http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/DOCUMENTS/DMCFileCurrent.aspx|archive-date=10 February 2011|access-date=15 August 2017|website=Department of Appointments and Personnel, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]|language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Administrative Officers of Kanpur Nagar|url=http://kanpurnagar.nic.in/Admin.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815045033/http://kanpurnagar.nic.in/Admin.htm|archive-date=15 August 2017|access-date=16 August 2017|website=Kanpur Nagar District website}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Police Commissioner
| Ram Krishna Swarnkar<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?zoneknp&cd=NgAxADIA|title=Officers posted at Kanpur Zone|website=[[Uttar Pradesh Police]]|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817041339/https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?zoneknp&cd=NgAxADIA|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|[[Inspector General of Police (India)|Inspector General]], Kanpur Range
| Prashant Kumar<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?rangeknp&cd=NgAxADkA|title=Officers posted at Kanpur Range|website=[[Uttar Pradesh Police]]|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817042105/https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?rangeknp&cd=NgAxADkA|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Vice Chairman, [[Kanpur Development Authority]]
| Vishakh G. Iyer (addl. charge)<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://www.kdaindia.co.in/contact.aspx|title=Contact Us|website=Kanpur Development Authority|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817034724/http://www.kdaindia.co.in/contact.aspx|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite web|url=http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/ias/iaslist_posting.aspx?id1=MCMwIzQ0|title=List of IAS officers who are Vice Chairmen of Development Authorities|website=Department of Appointment and Personnel, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821130308/http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/ias/iaslist_posting.aspx?id1=MCMwIzQ0|archive-date=21 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|[[Mayor]]
| [[Pramila Pandey]]<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=http://kmc.up.nic.in/|title=Home Page|website=Kanpur Municipal Corporation|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413165642/http://kmc.up.nic.in/|archive-date=13 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|[[Municipal commissioner (India)|Municipal Commissioner]]
|Shivasharanappa G. N.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=http://kmc.up.nic.in/Contacts.htm|script-title=hi:वरिष्ठ अधिकारी|website=Kanpur Municipal Corporation|language=hi|trans-title=Senior Officers|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817035547/http://kmc.up.nic.in/Contacts.htm|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/pcs/pcs_hod.aspx|title=PCS OFFICERS (Posted as HOD)|website=Department of Appointment and Personnel, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211210127/http://niyuktionline.up.nic.in/pcs/pcs_hod.aspx|archive-date=11 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|District Judge
|Pradeep Kumar Singh<ref name=":8">{{cite web|url=http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/District/KanpurNagar.htm|title=Judicial Officers in Kanpur Nagar|website=[[Allahabad High Court]]|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817122327/http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/District/KanpurNagar.htm|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
| Sushil Kumar Singh<ref name=":8" />
|}

=== Urban infrastructure ===
[[File:Kanpur Skyscrapers.jpg|thumb|High-rise buildings of Kanpur]]
[[File:IIT Kanpur 4.jpg|thumb|IIT Kanpur campus]]
[[File:IIT Kanpur metro station.jpg|thumb|Kanpur Metro Station]]

The metropolitan region defined under JNNURM by Kanpur Nagar Nigam, includes the Kanpur Nagar Nigam area, 8 kilometres around KNN boundary and newly included 47 villages of [[Unnao district]] on the north-eastern side, it extends to Murtaza Nagar, in the west its limit is up to [[Akbarpur, Kanpur Dehat]] Nagar Panchayat limit, on the eastern side the limit has been expanded on the road leading to Fatehpur and in extended up to. The metropolitan region area includes the area of [[Shuklaganj]] Municipal Committee (Nagar Palika), Unnao Municipal Committee (Nagar Palika), Akbarpur Village Authority (Nagar Panchayat) and [[Bithoor]] Village Authority (Nagar Panchayat) area.<ref name="jnnurm.nic.in">{{cite web |url=http://jnnurm.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/CDP_Kanpur.pdf |title=Final Report : Kanpur City |publisher=Jnnurm.nic.in |access-date=29 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218194818/http://jnnurm.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/CDP_Kanpur.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2015 }}</ref> In 1997–98, total metropolitan region area has increased to 89131.15 hectare out of which 4,743.9 hectare (5.31%) was non-defined (prohibited area) and rest 29,683 hectare and 54,704 hectare (61.39%) was urban and rural area respectively.

=== Administration ===
====General administration====
[[Kanpur division]] which consists of six districts, and is headed by the [[Divisional commissioner (India)|divisional commissioner]] of Kanpur, who is an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) officer of high seniority, the [[Divisional commissioner (India)|commissioner]] is the head of local government institutions (including municipal corporations) in the division, is in charge of infrastructure development in his division, and is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the division.<ref name=":22">{{cite web|url=http://up.gov.in/upconstitution.aspx|title=CONSTITUTIONAL SETUP|website=[[Government of Uttar Pradesh]]|access-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000649/http://up.gov.in/upconstitution.aspx|archive-date=31 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":422">{{Cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|location=[[New Delhi]]|pages=563–572|edition=6th}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite book|title=Revenue administration in India: A case study of Bihar|last=Singh|first=G.P.|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1993|isbn=978-8170993810|location=[[Delhi]]|pages=26–129}}</ref><ref name=":62">{{Cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=McGraw Hill Education|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|location=[[Noida]]|pages=5.1–5.2|edition=2nd}}</ref> The [[District collector (India)|district magistrate]] of Kanpur reports to the [[Divisional commissioner (India)|divisional commissioner]]. The current [[Divisional commissioner (India)|commissioner]] is Shri Amit Gupta.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":0" />

Kanpur district administration is headed by the [[District collector (India)|district magistrate]] of Kanpur, who is an [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS officer]]. The DM is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the central government and oversees the [[Elections in India|elections]] held in the city. [[District collector|The DM]] is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the city.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":42">{{Cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|location=[[New Delhi]]|pages=573–597|edition=6th}}</ref><ref name=":63">{{Cite book|title=Governance in India|last=Laxmikanth|first=M.|publisher=McGraw Hill Education|year=2014|isbn=978-9339204785|location=[[Noida]]|pages=6.1–6.6|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name=":53">{{Cite book|title=Revenue administration in India: A case study of Bihar|last=Singh|first=G.P.|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1993|isbn=978-8170993810|location=[[Delhi]]|pages=50–124}}</ref> The DM is assisted by a chief development officer; four additional district magistrates for finance/revenue, city, land acquisition, and civil supply; one city magistrat; and seven additional city magistrates.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=http://kanpurnagar.nic.in/WorkDistribution/WorkDistribution.htm|title=Work Distribution :-|website=Kanpur Nagar district website|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213091756/http://kanpurnagar.nic.in/WorkDistribution/WorkDistribution.htm|archive-date=13 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The district has four [[tehsil]]s viz. Sadar, Bilhaur, Ghatampur and Narwal, each headed by a [[Sub-Divisional Magistrate|sub-divisional magistrate]].<ref name=":6" /> The current DM is Mr. Rakesh Kumar Singh.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":0" />

====Civic administration====
{{Main|Kanpur Development Authority|Kanpur Municipal Corporation}}

[[File:Kanpur Boat Club 2.jpg|thumb]]

[[Kannur Municipality|Kanpur municipality]] was established on 22 November 1861, and was upgraded to a municipal corporation in 1959.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=Chapter IV: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF KANPUR REGION|url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/223280/10/10_chapter%204.pdf|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Shodhganga}}</ref> The local government of Kanpur is governed under the Municipal act for the state, Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

The area under the municipal limits of Kanpur city, or [[Kanpur Municipal Corporation]], is spread over an area of 403 square km.<ref name="Kanpur City" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=District Handbook - Town Amenities - Row 409|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB.html|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> It oversees civic activities in the city. The head of the corporation is the mayor, but the executive and administration of the corporation are the responsibility of the [[Municipal Commissioner (India)|municipal commissioner]], who is an IAS officer.<ref name=":7" /> The executive wing is headed by municipal commissioner, Sudhir kumar <ref name=":5" /><ref name=":10" /> and has the following departments: Revenue, City Cleansing, Engineering, Marg Prakash, [[Health]], Accounts, Personnel/HRD, Swasthya Vibhag, Education, Mukya Nagar Lekha Vibhag, Pariyojna, Udyan Vibhag, Chikitsa Vibhag, Encroachment & Cattle Catching Department.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KMC: Organisational Structure|url=http://kmc.up.nic.in/#|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Kanpur Municipal Corporation}}</ref> There is also an executive committee present in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 January 2006|title=Corporators spit fire, officers play truant|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/corporators-spit-fire-officers-play-truant/story-s3YDepYD3HukkIUfcfHWtM.html|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2013 |author=TNN |title=Kanpur Municipal Corporation's executive panel to discuss new proposals today |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Kanpur-Municipal-Corporations-executive-panel-to-discuss-new-proposals-today/articleshow/24693187.cms|access-date=21 October 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

The development of infrastructure in the city is overseen by [[Kanpur Development Authority]] (KDA), which comes under the Housing Department of [[Government of Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh government]]. The [[Divisional commissioner (India)|divisional commissioner]] of Kanpur acts as the ''[[ex-officio]]'' Chairman of KDA, whereas a vice chairperson, a government-appointed [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS officer]], looks after the daily matters of the authority.<ref>{{cite web|title=About KDA|url=http://www.kdaindia.co.in/aboutkda.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809132436/http://www.kdaindia.co.in/aboutkda.aspx|archive-date=9 August 2017|access-date=16 August 2017|website=Kanpur Development Authority}}</ref> The current vice-chairman of Kanpur Development Authority is Shri Madan Singh Garbyal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KDA Website |url=https://www.kdaindia.co.in/en/contact.php }}</ref>

The municipality receives revenue from general tax, advertisement tax, income from municipal properties, grants from state government etc.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|title=Final Report: Kanpur City Development Plan Under JNNURM (complete document)|url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/CDP_Kanpur.pdf|website=India Environment Portal}}</ref>

==== Law and order ====
The Kanpur District Court is headed by the [[District Courts of India|district judge]] of Kanpur, who is assisted by numerous additional district judges, civil judges (senior division) and additional civil judges. Kanpur is a notified metropolitan area by UP Government under [[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973]], and therefore has a chief metropolitan magistrate, who is assisted by several metropolitan magistrates. The district judge is Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh,<ref name=":8" /> and the chief metropolitan magistrate was Shri Sushil Kumar Singh.<ref name=":8" />

====Police administration====
{{Main|Kanpur Police}}
Kanpur Nagar police administration is headed by a Commissioner of Police which is an IPS officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police. The present Police Commissioner of Kanpur Nagar is Shri Akhil Kumar, who is assisted by an additional Commissioner, a Joint Commissioner and several Deputy Commissioners, additional Deputy Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners of Police who are either IPS officers or [[Provincial Police Service (Uttar Pradesh)|Provincial Police Service]] (PPS) officers.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Officers posted at KANPUR NAGAR |url=https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?kanpurngr&cd=NgA2ADIA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817042131/https://uppolice.gov.in/frmOfficials.aspx?kanpurngr&cd=NgA2ADIA |archive-date=17 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017 |website=[[Uttar Pradesh Police]]}}</ref> Each of the several police circles is headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in the rank of deputy superintendent of police.<ref name=":3" />

===Politics===
==== Local politics ====
The city is divided into six zones and 110 [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|wards]] with a ward population range of 19,000 to 26,000 and 110 [[Councillor|corporators]] directly elected from each ward.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=mayor_corporators|url=http://kmc.up.nic.in/mayor_corporators.htm|access-date=20 October 2020|website=kmc.up.nic.in}}</ref> As mandated by the 74th constitutional amendment, there were 11 ward committees in Kanpur municipal corporation in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ward power|url=https://ccs.in/sites/all/books/com_books/ward-power.pdf|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=25 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225184506/https://ccs.in/sites/all/books/com_books/ward-power.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Local elections were last held in 2022, when the mayor, [[Pramila Pandey]] from the BJP, was re-elected.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 November 2017|title=Kanpur Municipal Corporation Nagar Nigam elections result 2017: Full List of ward-wise winners|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/kanpur-municipal-corporation-nagar-nigam-elections-result-2017-full-list-ward-wise-winners-2012-this-year/952931/|access-date=20 October 2020|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref> The previous mayor had been Captain (retired) [[Jagatvir Singh Drona]].<ref name=":5" /> As of 2006, Kanpur Municipal Council has an elected mayor-in-council system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kanpur City Development Plan Under JNNURM|url=http://kmc.up.nic.in/PDF_Files/Chapter%2013%20-%20Part1%20Institutional%20frame%20work.pdf|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Kanpur Municipal Corporation}}</ref>

==== State politics ====
Kanpur Nagar district encompasses one Lok Sabha constituency and ten [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha]] constituencies{{Citation not found|date=October 2020}}. The city of Kanpur has one representative [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|member of parliament]] in [[Lok Sabha]] for [[Kanpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanpur]], [[Satyadev Pachauri]].

===Civic utilities===
The first development plan of the city was created by the [[Kanpur Development Authority|Kanpur Development Board]] in 1943. This was followed by the masterplan being designed by the Town and Country Planning Department from 1962 to 1991, which was adopted after the establishment of the Kanpur Development Authority in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RashmiAshttJJT/61009264 Chapter 5: Land use|url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/45951/13/13_chapter%205.pdf|website=Shodhganga}}</ref><ref name=":15" /> The most recent masterplan is the Draft Master Plan of 2021 .<ref name=":15" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Website of Town And Country Planning Department, Uttar Pradesh, India. / Introduction of Development Area Kanpur|url=http://uptownplanning.gov.in/post/en/introduction-of-development-area-kanpur|access-date=21 October 2020|website=uptownplanning.gov.in|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026083540/http://uptownplanning.gov.in/post/en/introduction-of-development-area-kanpur|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Electricity is supplied to the city by [[Kanpur Electricity Supply Company]] (KESCO), which is under the [[Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited|Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation]] Ltd (UPPCL).<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 September 2020|title=UP: State Power Employees Protest Against Privatisation of PuVVNL|url=https://www.newsclick.in/UP-state-power-employees-protest-against-privatisation-PuVVNL|access-date=21 October 2020|website=NewsClick|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India. / About UPPCL / Agencies under the Administrative Control|url=https://www.upenergy.in/uppcl/en/page/agencies-under-the-administrative-control|access-date=21 October 2020|website=www.upenergy.in|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024112846/https://www.upenergy.in/uppcl/en/page/agencies-under-the-administrative-control|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fire services are under the state, Uttar Pradesh Fire Service.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UP Fire Services|url=http://upfireservice.gov.in/upfire/|access-date=21 October 2020|website=upfireservice.gov.in|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919045427/http://upfireservice.gov.in/upfire/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Water supply, sewerage is done by the Jal Kal vibhag of KMC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jal Kal|url=https://jalkalkanpur.in/AboutUs|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Jal Kal}}</ref> Infrastructure development and maintenance is done by the state's body, UP Jal Nigam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Website of Jal Nigam, Uttar Pradesh {{!}} About Department {{!}} About Jal Nigam, Uttar Pradesh|url=http://jn.upsdc.gov.in/page/en/about-jal-nigam,-uttar-pradesh|access-date=21 October 2020|website=jn.upsdc.gov.in|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025163004/http://jn.upsdc.gov.in/page/en/about-jal-nigam,-uttar-pradesh|url-status=dead}}</ref> The piped water supply of Kanpur City was started in 1892.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|title=Kanpur City Development Plan|url=https://www.rcueslucknow.org/jnnurm/Kanpur/9%20Chapter%209%20Municipal%20Services.pdf|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Rcues Lucknow}}</ref> After construction of Ganga Barrage on the river, a permanent and reliable source for the water supply got available to provide 1600 mld raw water.<ref name=":13" /> The city also receives water from the catchment areas of rivers Ganga and Pandu.<ref name=":13" /> However, while the total water supply requirement is 600 mld only 385 mld of potable water is being supplied.<ref name=":13" /> The city loses water due to leaky pipes and contamination of natural water sources.<ref name=":13" /> There is a severe water crisis in Kanpur.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 September 2020|title=The water crisis is another alarm bell|url=https://www.avenuemail.in/opinion/the-water-crisis-is-another-alarm-bell/152016/|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Avenue Mail|language=en-US|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023033525/https://www.avenuemail.in/opinion/the-water-crisis-is-another-alarm-bell/152016/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2015, Ganga Pollution Control Unit in Kanpur got about Rs 200 crores to make four STPs functional.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |first1=Neha |last1=Shukla |agency=TNN |date=21 September 2015 |title=New sewage treatment plants on Ganga in Kanpur |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/New-sewage-treatment-plants-on-Ganga-in-Kanpur/articleshow/49043905.cms|access-date=21 October 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The city then reported having three STPs for domestic waste.<ref name=":14" /> In 2017, there was only one sewage treatment plant for waste from tanneries, biggest source of industrial pollution to the Ganga, was to be replaced by a newer one costing 400 cr as the old one could only treat 9 MLD at the most. 823.1 MLD of untreated sewage and 212.42 MLD of industrial effluent flow into the river.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Koshy|first=Jacob|date=15 December 2017|title=New ₹400-cr effluent treatment plant to come up in Kanpur|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/new-400-cr-effluent-treatment-plant-to-come-up-in-kanpur/article21713861.ece|access-date=21 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2019, another STP costing worth Rs 816.25 was to be set up.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sewage treatment plant worth Rs 816.25 cr to come up in Kanpur|url=https://www.projectstoday.com/News/Sewage-treatment-plant-worth-Rs-81625-cr-to-come-up-in-Kanpur|access-date=21 October 2020|website=www.projectstoday.com}}</ref> As of 2020, While the government has stopped pollution from Kanpur's biggest drain, Sishamau, of Kanpur's 48 drains, eight still have no devices to stop effluents.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 August 2020|title=New Ganga law will define cleanliness levels, make polluters pay|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-govt-to-bring-new-law-to-keep-ganga-clean/story-XT0sNAofJAyBiUcF6STg8L.html|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

Solid waste management is handled by the KMC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workshop organised by CSE and Govt. of UP|url=https://cdn.cseindia.org/userfiles/kanpur_municipal_corporation.pdf|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Centre for Science and Environment}}</ref> As of 2015, Kanpur generates 1,500 tonnes of solid wastes from domestic and industrial sources, 64,000 tonnes of [[hazardous waste]] annually which includes metals and waste generated by tanneries, dye industries and chemical industries; while coal ash produced in Kanpur amounts to 71,000 tonnes per annum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A miserable place to live|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/a-miserable-place-to-live-10170|access-date=21 October 2020|website=www.downtoearth.org.in|date=30 September 2005 |language=en}}</ref>{{Clear}}

== Transport ==
[[Image:Kanpur Central Station.jpg|thumb|[[Kanpur Central|Kanpur Central Railway Station]]]]
[[File:Kanpur Airport 2.jpg|thumb|[[Kanpur Airport]]]]
[[Image:IIT Kanpur metro station.jpg|thumb|[[Kanpur Metro|IIT Kanpur metro station]]]]

=== Air ===
[[File:Kanpur Airport 3.jpg|thumb|Kanpur Airport]]
[[Kanpur Airport]] is a domestic airport and has direct scheduled commercial non-stop flights to [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|New Delhi]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]], [[Hyderabad]] and [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]]. The nearest international airport to the city is the [[Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport]] in [[Lucknow]], which is around {{convert|77.1|km|mi}} away.

=== Rail ===
Indian Railways: [[Kanpur Central]] is a major railhead and is among the busiest railway stations in the country. Rail routes connect it to all major cities in the state and the country. It is an A-1 category railway station that comes under the [[Prayagraj railway division]] of [[North Central Railway zone]] of [[Indian Railways]]. Around 300 trains pass through it daily.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Around-300-trains-pass-through-Kanpur-Central-daily/articleshow/6884554.cms|title=Around 300 trains pass through Kanpur Central daily|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=7 November 2010|access-date=15 April 2018|author=TN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617134415/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Around-300-trains-pass-through-Kanpur-Central-daily/articleshow/6884554.cms|archive-date=17 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The city of Kanpur has eleven railway stations in addition to the main Kanpur Central:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#fff;"
|-
! style="background:#ffd750;"| Station name
! style="background:#ffd750;"| Station code
! style="background:#ffd750;"| Railway zone
! style="background:#ffd750;"| Total platforms
|-
| [[Kanpur Central railway station|Kanpur Central]]
| style="text-align:center;"| CNB
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
|-
| [[Kanpur Anwarganj railway station|Kanpur Anwarganj]]
| style="text-align:center;"| CPA
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
| [[Rawatpur railway station|Rawatpur]]
| style="text-align:center;"| RPO
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Eastern Railway Zone|North Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| [[Kalianpur railway station|Kalyanpur]]
| style="text-align:center;"| KAP
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Eastern Railway Zone|North Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| [[Mandhana Junction railway station|Mandhana Junction]]
| style="text-align:center;"| MDA
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Eastern Railway Zone|North Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
| [[Brahmavart railway station|Brahmavart]]
| style="text-align:center;"| BRT
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Eastern Railway Zone|North Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| [[Govindpuri railway station|Govindpuri]]
| style="text-align:center;"| GOY
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
|[[Panki Dham railway station|Panki Dham]]
| style="text-align:center;"| PKD
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
|[[Chandari Junction railway station|Chandari Junction]]
| style="text-align:center;"| CNBI
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
| [[Chakeri railway station|Chakeri]]
| style="text-align:center;"| CHK
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
|Rooma
| style="text-align:center;"| Rooma
| style="text-align:center;"| [[North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
| [[Kanpur Bridge Left Bank railway station|Kanpur Bridge Left Bank]]
| style="text-align:center;"| CPB
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
|}

Metro: The [[Kanpur Metro]] is a [[Rapid transit|mass rapid transit]] system in Kanpur. The metro is owned and operated by the [[Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation]] (UPMRC). It consists of two lines, the [[Orange Line (Kanpur Metro)|Orange Line]] and the Blue Line. The priority corridor of the Orange Line, which connects [[Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur|IIT Kanpur]] to Motijheel, was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi|Modi]] on 28 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-28|title=PM Modi takes Metro ride in Kanpur after inauguration of first section {{!}} Watch|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/videos/news/pm-modi-takes-metro-ride-in-kanpur-after-inauguration-of-first-section-watch-101640707860618.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

=== Road ===
The city has the historically important [[Grand Trunk Road]] which serves as the lifeline of the city. There are several important national highways and expressways that pass through and around Kanpur.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!NH/NE number
!Route
!Length
|-
|[[National Highway 19 (India)|NH 19]]
|[[Delhi]], [[Mathura]], [[Agra]], Kanpur,  [[Allahabad]], [[Varanasi]], [[Mohania]], [[Aurangabad]], [[Barhi, Hazaribagh|Barhi]], [[Palsit]], [[Asansol]], [[Kolkata]]
|1435
|-
|[[National Highway 27 (India)|NH 27]]
|[[Porbandar]] » [[Udaipur]] » [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]] » [[Shivpuri]] » [[Jhansi]] » Kanpur » [[Lucknow]]  » [[Darbhanga]] » [[Alipurduar]] » [[Guwahati]] » [[Silchar]]
|3507
|-
|[[National Highway 34 (India)|NH 34]]
|[[Gangotri Dham]] » [[Rishikesh]] » [[Haridwar]] » [[Bijnore]] » [[Ghaziabad]] » [[Aligarh]] » [[Kannauj]] » Kanpur » [[Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh|Hamirpur]] » [[Mahoba]] » [[Chhatarpur]] » [[Jabalpur]] » [[Lakhnadon]]
|1426
|-
|NH (proposed)
|Kanpur » [[Raebareli]] » [[Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh|Sultanpur]] » [[Shahganj]] » [[Azamgarh]] » [[Gaura Barhaj]] » [[Siwan, Bihar|Siwan]] » [[Muzaffarpur]]
|581
|-
|NE 6 [[Awadh Expressway]] (Under Construction)
|Kanpur to Lucknow
|62.76
|-
|NE 7  Kanpur-Noida Expressway (Proposed)
|Kanpur to [[Kannauj]] to [[Mainpuri]] to [[Bulandshahr]] to [[Noida]]
Branch [[Hapur]]
|380
|-
|[[Ganga Expressway]]
|[[Haridwar]] » [[Meerut]] » [[Shahjahanpur]] » Kanpur  » [[Raebareli]] » [[Prayagraj]] » [[Varanasi]] » [[Ballia]]
|1024
|-
|[[Outer Ring Road, Kanpur|Outer Ring Road Kanpur]]
|[[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur Metropolitan Area]]
|93
|}

The [[Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation|UPSRTC]] inter state bus station (ISBT) of Kanpur is officially named as the "Shaheed Major Salman Khan bus station", and is locally known as the "Jhakarkati Bus Station". It provides buses to many important cities of India.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} Other important bus stations are the Chunniganj bus stand for Farrukhabad, Bareilly and Uttarakhand routes, and the Naubasta bus stand for Hamirpur route. Fazalganj is another hub for private carriers.

[[Outer Ring Road, Kanpur|Ring road]]: In 2011, it was reported by [[The Indian Express]] that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planned to develop a four-lane outer ring road along the periphery of Kanpur with an aim to prevent traffic congestion in the city caused by long-distance heavy vehicles. The new road, which would help heavy vehicles to bypass the city, would be developed on Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under the phase-VII of National Highways Development Programme (NHDP).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kanpur-to-get-outer-ring-road-to-bypass-traf/739887/ |title=Kanpur to get outer ring road to bypass traffic blues |date=20 January 2011 |publisher=Indianepress.com |access-date=20 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303231012/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kanpur-to-get-outer-ring-road-to-bypass-traf/739887/ |archive-date=3 March 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Expand section|date=January 2024}}
Kanpur is an important economic center in India with a GDP of ~$9 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Invest UP Kanpur |url=https://invest.up.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kanpur_250924.pdf }}</ref> There was a time when Kanpur was very prosperous but over time it lagged behind other big cities due to continuous negligence from both the national and state governments, as they diverted funds to other cities, which hampered its growth.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} According to GDP per capita, it ranks 9th in Uttar Pradesh. [[Noida]] and [[Meerut]] rank first and second,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statistical Diary |first=Uttar Pradesh |title=Uttar Pradesh Statistical Diary |url=https://updes.up.nic.in/esd/reports/dbank_march21/Diary%202020(English).pdf}}</ref> while the state capital [[Lucknow]] ranks seventh.

==Education and research==
{{see also|List of educational institutions in Kanpur}}

===Higher education===
[[File:IIT Kanpur.jpg|thumb|A building at IIT Kanpur]]

[[IIT Kanpur|The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur]] (IIT Kanpur) is a public technical and research university located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established in 1959 as one of the first Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), with the assistance of a consortium of nine US research universities as part of the Kanpur Indo-American Programme (KIAP).<ref>Norman Dahl: Kanpur Indo-American Program; http://csg.csail.mit.edu/Dahl/kiapbooklet.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812034015/http://csg.csail.mit.edu/Dahl/kiapbooklet.pdf |date=12 August 2011 }}</ref><ref>Financial Statements and Performance Indicators. Jump up ^ Kelkar, P.K. (17 March 2006). "IIT Kanpur — History". IIT Kanpur</ref>

[[Image:CSJM University.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University]]

Other educational institutions in the city include three state universities. [[Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University]] is one of the largest universities in northern India catering to urban and rural students offering professional and academic courses in the disciplines of Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Engineering, Biotechnology, Computer Applications, Management and Medicine.

[[Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology]] is an agricultural university named after the Indian revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad which caters to the needs of the farming community of 29 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

[[Harcourt Butler Technical University]] (HBTU) offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral programs in engineering, as well as Masters programs in Business Administration, and Computer Applications. Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped, an institution to provide technical education to specially-abled students inaugurated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1997, is also situated in Kanpur.

[[National Sugar Institute]] (NSI) is involved in research, training and advisory services to the sugar and allied industry, and functions under the Department of Food and Public Distribution of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

There are also private universities in the city such as [[Rama University]], which is part of the Rama Group.<ref>Private University Uttar Pradesh; http://www.ugc.ac.in/privateuniversitylist.aspx?id=33&Unitype=3 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907080541/http://www.ugc.ac.in/privateuniversitylist.aspx?id=33&Unitype=3 |date=7 September 2017 }}</ref> There are several private technical and management institutions in the city such as the [[Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology]] and the [[Axis Institute of Technology And Management]], which are affiliated with [[Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University]].

===Medical education===
[[Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College]] (GSVM Medical College) is a state-run medical college in Kanpur. It was founded in 1956 and named after [[Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi]], a freedom fighter and journalist from Kanpur. [[Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital]], also known as Hallet Hospital, is associated with the college.

Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur is commonly known as ''Hallet Hospital'' because of its origins. It was initially established during the British colonial period and named after a British civil surgeon, George Henry Hallet, who served in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) and contributed to the field of public health. Although the hospital was later renamed to honor [[Lala Lajpat Rai]], a prominent Indian freedom fighter, the original name continued to be widely used by locals.

== Notable people ==
{{Main|List of people from Kanpur}}

*[[Lala Kamlapat Singhania]], industrialist
*[[Padampat Singhania]], industrialist
*[[Kuldeep Yadav]], cricketer
*[[Harish-Chandra]], mathematician
*[[Giriraj Kishore (writer)|Giriraj Kishore]], novelist
*[[Irshad Mirza]], industrialist
*[[Gaurav Khanna]], actor
*[[Rajeev Shukla]], political commentator and former journalist
*[[Kamal Nath]], politician
* [[Tanmay Srivastava]]

==See also==
* [[Akbarpur Lok Sabha constituency]]
* [[List of cities in Uttar Pradesh by population]]
* [[List of engineering colleges in Kanpur]]
* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in India]]
* [[Second Battle of Cawnpore]]
* [[List of Indian metropolitan areas by GDP]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{EB1911 poster|Cawnpore}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193735/http://kmc.up.nic.in/ Kanpur city portal]

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = GT Amusement Park Town (GTAPT)
|North     = Gangotri Township
|Northeast = [[Shuklaganj]]
|West      = [[New Kanpur City]]
|Center    = Kanpur City
|South     = Fazalganj
|Southwest = [[Rawatpur]], shivrajpur, bilhaur, kannuj
|Southeast = [[Govind Nagar]]
|East      = [[Kanpur Cantonment]]
|}}

{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Kanpur}}
{{Million-plus cities in India}}
{{Kanpur Nagar district}}
{{Kanpur division topics}}
{{Uttar Pradesh}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kanpur| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Metropolitan cities in India]]
[[Category:Smart cities in India]]