The arid Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh is inching up the investment ladder with industrial projects worth Rs 8,000 crore attaining commercial production this year. In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi — at the fourth edition of the Ground Breaking Ceremony (GBC 4.0) in Lucknow — launched projects totalling Rs 69,000 crore for Bundelkhand. Most of these projects pertained to private sector investment spanning different sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, housing and energy, among others. “Within five months of the GBC 4.0, Bundelkhand witnessed commercial production of projects worth Rs 8,000 crore, thus creating jobs for thousands of youth,” a senior UP government official said.