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Nalanda district

Coordinates: 25°12′00″N 85°31′12″E / 25.20000°N 85.52000°E / 25.20000; 85.52000
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Nalanda district
District
Top: Ruins of Nalanda mahavihara
Bottom: Son Bhandar Caves, Rajgir
Location of Nalanda district in Bihar
Location of Nalanda district in Bihar
Country India
StateBihar
DivisionPatna
Established9 November 1972
HeadquartersBihar Sharif
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesNalanda
Area
 • Total
2,367 km2 (914 sq mi)
 • Urban
112.91 km2 (43.59 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
2,877,653
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy66.41 (M=77.11; F=54.76)
 • Sex ratio921 (2011)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
PIN Code
803111[1]
Major highwaysNH 20, NH 33, NH 120, NH 431
WebsiteNalanda District
Administrative map of Nalanda district

Nalanda district is one of the thirty-eight districts of the state of Bihar in India. Bihar Sharif is the administrative headquarters of this district. The districts is home to the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nalanda is located in the Magadh region of southern Bihar.[2]

History

Nalanda became a fully-fledged district when it was split from Patna on 9 November 1972.[3][4]

Geography

Nalanda district occupies an area of 2,355 square kilometres (909 sq mi).[5] The Phalgu, Mohane, Jirayan, and Kumbhari rivers flow through it. The district is a part of Patna Division. Majority of the land in the district is fertile land of Indo Gangetic plane. In the extreme South, there lies the hills of Rajgir. There is also one small hillock in the district headquarters of Bihar Sharif.

Flora and fauna

In 1978 Nalanda district became home to the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajgir which has an area of 35.84 km2 (13.8 sq mi).[6]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901595,009—    
1911589,310−0.10%
1921577,663−0.20%
1931676,424+1.59%
1941785,619+1.51%
1951926,189+1.66%
19611,086,972+1.61%
19711,304,832+1.84%
19811,639,922+2.31%
19911,996,257+1.99%
20012,370,528+1.73%
20112,877,653+1.96%
source:[7]
Religions in Nalanda District (2011)[8]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 92.78%
Islam
 
 6.88%
Others
 
 0.34%

According to the 2011 census Nalanda district has a population of 2,877,653,[9] roughly equal to the nation of Mongolia[10] or the US state of Kansas.[11] This gives it a ranking of 134th in India (out of a total of 640),[9] and 18th in state. The district has a population density of 1,220 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,200/sq mi) .[9] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.18%.[9] Nalanda has a sex ratio of 921 females for every 1000 males,[9] and a literacy rate of 66.41%. 15.91% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 21.12% and 0.05% of the population respectively.[9]

Languages of Nalanda district (2011)[12]

  Magahi (56.27%)
  Hindi (37.28%)
  Urdu (5.69%)
  Others (0.76%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 56.27% of the population in the district spoke Magahi, 37.28% Hindi and 5.69% Urdu as their first language.[12]

Politics

Since Kurmis are dominant in Nalanda, it is also known by the name Kurmistan in political circle.[13] Nalanda district is the birthplace of Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar. The Nalanda district comprises Nalanda Lok Sabha constituency, which can further be fragmented into seven Legislative Assembly constituencies. In 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, Janata Dal (United) (JDU), the political party led by Kumar was able to win five out of seven Legislative Assembly constituencies of the district. It has been stated that preponderance of Kushwahas apart from Kurmis and sizeable population of Extremely Backward Castes, who are considered as the supporters of Kumar, has been the prime factor behind success of JDU in polls conducted in this district.[14]

This section is transcluded from 17th Bihar Assembly. (edit | history)
District No. Constituency Name Party Alliance Remarks
Nalanda 171 Asthawan Jitendra Kumar JD(U) NDA
172 Biharsharif Sunil Kumar BJP NDA
173 Rajgir Kaushal Kishore JD(U) NDA
174 Islampur Rakesh Raushan Yadav RJD MGB
175 Hilsa Krishna Murari Sharan JD(U) NDA
176 Nalanda Shrawan Kumar JD(U) NDA
177 Harnaut Hari Narayan Singh JD(U) NDA

Divisions

Sub Divisions: 3 - Modern District of Nalanda with HQ Biharsharif was established on 9 November 1972. Earlier it was Biharsharif sub-division of Patna district. Bihar Sharif, Rajgir, Hilsa
Blocks: 20 - Giriyak, Rahui, Noorsarai, Harnaut, Chandi, Islampur, Rajgir, Asthawan, Sarmera, Hilsa, Biharsharif, Ekangarsarai, Bena, Nagarnausa, Karai Parsurai, Silao, Parwalpur, Katrisarai, Bind, Tharthari.

Status

Nalanda district is fast developing and the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University or UNESCO Nalanda Archaeological Site attracts tourists from all over the world driving the local economy.

Economy

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, with the majority of the population engaged in agriculture. Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, potato, fruits, and vegetables are the main crops. A newly setup Ordnance Factory, one of the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories has been set up by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India to manufacture artillery shells at Nalanda by the then Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes. Then there is the railway coach maintenance plant at Harnaut Block of Nalanda.

Tourism is well developed, with lakhs of people flocking at ruins of Nalanda University, Rajgir and Pawapuri. Rajgir was the first capital of Magadh Empire. Buddha had spent years at this place. Surrounded by five hills, it has got scenic views. Pawapuri, the Nirwana place of Mahavir, is holy place for the Jains.[15][16] In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nalanda one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[17] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[17]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "NALANDA Pin Code - 803111, Silao All Post Office Areas PIN Codes, Search NALANDA Post Office Address". ABP Live. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  2. ^ Chaudhary, Pranava Kumar (15 July 2016). "UNESCO declares Nalanda Mahavihara World Heritage Site". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Sub-Divisions | District Nalanda, Government of Bihar | India". nalanda.nic.in. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Districts of India". statoids.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ^ Nitima Shiv Charan Dayawanti Srivastava (2010). "States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1118–1119. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.
  6. ^ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Bihar". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  8. ^ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "District Census Handbook: Nalanda" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  10. ^ Wordometer. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Mongolia 3,278,290 July 2011 est
  11. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Kansas 2,853,118
  12. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  13. ^ IANS (27 October 2015). "Caste dominates in Bihar's third round polling". Business Standard India. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  14. ^ कुमार, सुजीत (27 September 2020). "नीतीश कुमार का मजबूत दुर्ग है गृह जिला नालंदा, क्या सातों सीट जीतकर करेंगे क्लीन स्वीप?". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Govt won't shift ordnance factory from Bihar - Times of India". articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. ^ PTI (17 November 2017). "OFB Nalanda to develop indigenous artillery shells". @businessline. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  17. ^ a b Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.

25°12′00″N 85°31′12″E / 25.20000°N 85.52000°E / 25.20000; 85.52000

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