The government also decided to re-christen Kanpur Dehat district as Ramabai Nagar.
The decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by UP Chief Minister Mayawati. Amethi, would now be the 72nd district of the state.
Mayawati in 2003 had decided to make Amethi a district but the idea was scrapped when Mulayam Singh Yadav became the chief minister of the state.The decision was later challenged in the Allahabad High Court, which in March this year directed the government to take a decision within three months.
Congress sources refused to react but said the popular sentiment in Amethi wanted it to be named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.