List of districts of Chhattisgarh

Districts of Chhattisgarh coloured by division:

Chhattisgarh, a state of India, has 33 administrative districts, up from 16 districts it had in 2000 when it was formed as a new state.

Background

A district of an Indian state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a district magistrate or a deputy commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officials belonging to different wings of the administrative services of the state.

A superintendent of police, an officer belonging to Indian Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues.

History

British Raj

Before Indian independence, present-day Chhattisgarh state was divided between the Central Provinces and Berar, a province of British India, and a number of princely states in the north, south, and east, which were part of the Eastern States Agency.[citation needed]

The British province encompassed the central portion of the state, and was made up of three districts, Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg, which made up the Chhattisgarh Division of the Central Provinces. In 1906, Durg District was created out of the western portion of Raipur District.[citation needed]

The northern portion of the state, comprising present-day Koriya, Surajpur, Surguja, Jashpur, and Raigarh districts, was divided among the six princely states of Chang Bhakar, Jashpur, Koriya, Surajpur, Raigarh, Surguja, and Udaipur. To the west, the states of Nandgaon, Khairagarh, Chhuikhadan and Kawardha comprised parts of present-day Rajnandgaon and Kawardha districts. In the south, the state of Kanker comprised the northern portion of present-day Kanker District, and the state of Bastar included present-day Bastar and Dantewada districts and the southern part of Kanker District.[citation needed]

1947-1999: Post-independence of India

After Indian Independence, the princely states were merged with the Central Provinces and Berar to form the new state of Madhya Pradesh. Present-day Chhattisgarh comprised seven districts of Madhya Pradesh. The former states of Kanker and Bastar formed the new Bastar District, the parts of Surguja, Korea, and Chang Bhakar formed the new Surguja District, and the states of Nandgaon, Khairagarh, Chhuikhadan and Kawardha formed the new Rajnandgaon District.[citation needed]

In 1998, the seven districts that make up present-day Chhattisgarh were reorganized to form 16 districts. Dantewada and Kanker districts were split from Bastar; Dhamtari District was split from Raipur; Janjgir-Champa and Korba districts were split from Bilaspur; Jashpur District was split from Raigarh; Kawardha District was formed from parts of Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon; Koriya and Surajpur District was split from Surguja; and Mahasamund District was split from Raipur.[citation needed]

2000: Chhattisgarh as new state

On 1 November 2000, these 16 districts were split from Madhya Pradesh to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.

2007 onwards: growth in number of districts

On 11 May 2007, two new districts, Bijapur and Narayanpur were carved out, taking the total number of districts to 18.

On 1 January 2012, the Chhattisgarh government announced 9 new districts, for a total of 27, including newly created Sukma, Kondagaon, Balod, Bemetara, Baloda Bazar, Gariaband, Mungeli, Surajpur and Balrampur districts.

On 15 August 2019, the Chhattisgarh chief minister announced the creation of Chhattisgarh's 28th district, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, which was formally inaugurated on 10 February 2020 as the new district.

In September 2022, five new districts were inaugurated taking the total to 33 districts, including newly created Manpur-Mohla on 2 September, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh on 3 September, and Manendragarh and Sakti districts on 9 September, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai on 3 September 2022

Regions and divisions

Chhattisgarh has 3 geographical regions:

Existing districts of Chhattisgarh

Alphabetical list of districts

Chhattisgarh consists of 33 districts.

No. Code District Headquarters Population (2011) Area (km2) Density (/km2) Official website Map
1BDBalodBalod826,1653,527.00234http://balod.gov.in/
2BBBaloda Bazar-BhataparaBaloda Bazar1,078,9113,733.87290https://balodabazar.gov.in/
3BPBalrampurBalrampur730,4916,016.34100http://balrampur.gov.in/
4BABastarJagdalpur834,8736,596.90213http://bastar.gov.in/
5BEBemetaraBemetara795,7592,854.81279http://bemetara.gov.in/
6BJBijapurBijapur255,2306,552.9639http://bijapur.gov.in/
7BIBilaspurBilaspur1,625,5023,511.10463http://bilaspur.gov.in/
8DWDantewadaDantewada283,4793,410.5083http://dantewada.gov.in/
9DHDhamtariDhamtari799,7814,081.93196http://dhamtari.gov.in/
10DUDurgDurg1,721,9482,319.99742http://durg.gov.in/
11GBGariabandGariaband597,6535,854.94103http://gariaband.gov.in/
12GPGaurella-Pendra-MarwahiGaurella336,4202,307.39166https://gaurela-pendra-marwahi.cg.gov.in/
13JCJanjgir-ChampaJanjgir972,4532375.59360http://janjgir-champa.gov.in/
14JAJashpurJashpur851,6696,457.41132https://jashpur.nic.in/en/
15KDKabirdhamKawardha822,5264,447.05185http://kawardha.gov.in/
16KKKankerKanker748,9416,432.68117http://kanker.gov.in/
17KGKondagaonKondagaon578,3266,050.7396http://kondagaon.gov.in/
18KCKhairagarh-Chhuikhadan-GandaiKhairagarh368,4441553.84237https://s351ef186e18dc00c2d31982567235c559.s3waas.gov.in/
19KBKorbaKorba1,206,6407,145.44169http://korba.gov.in/
20KOKoriyaBaikunthpur247,4272001.77937http://korea.gov.in/
21MAMahasamundMahasamund1,032,7544,963.01208http://mahasamund.gov.in/
22MCManendragarh-Chirmiri-BharatpurManendragarh376,000422689https://manendragarh-chirmiri-bharatpur.cg.gov.in/en/
23MMMohla-Manpur- Ambagarh ChowkiMohla283,9472145.29132https://mohla-manpur-ambagarhchowki.cg.gov.in/en/
24MGMungeliMungeli701,7072,750.36255http://mungeli.gov.in
25NPNarayanpurNarayanpur139,8206,922.6820http://narayanpur.gov.in/
26RGRaigarhRaigarh1,112,9826527.44170http://raigarh.gov.in/
27RPRaipurRaipur2,160,8762,914.37742http://raipur.gov.in/
28RNRajnandgaonRajnandgaon884,7428,070110http://rajnandgaon.gov.in/
29SBSarangarh-BilaigarhSarangarh607,4341650.14368https://sarangarh-bilaigarh.cg.gov.in/
30SKSaktiSakti653,0361600.88408https://sakti.cg.gov.in/
31SUSukmaSukma250,1595,767.0243https://sukma.gov.in/
32SJSurajpurSurajpur789,0434,998.26158http://surajpur.gov.in/
33SGSurgujaAmbikapur840,3525,019.80167http://surguja.gov.in/

List of districts by divisions

Divisions listed north to south and east to west, and within divisions the districts have been listed clockwise starting from northwest.

List of districts with their major cities

No.DistrictHeadquarterLargest cityOther cities or towns
1RaipurRaipurRaipurNaya Raipur, Sarona, Tatibandh, Nardaha, Ama Seoni, Kendri, Mana, Mana Camp, Sejbahar, Saddu, Daldal Seoni, Mowa, Kharora, Arang, Dharsiwa, Siltara, Birgaon, Tilda
2BilaspurBilaspurBilaspurKota (Kargi Road), Ratanpur, Takhatpur, Masturi, Bilha, Beltara
3DurgDurgBhilaiCharoda, Kumhari, Utai, Anda, Dhamdha, Patan, Risali, Ahiwara, Supela, Jamul, Rasmara, Baghera
4KorbaKorbaKorbaKatghora, Pali, Dipka
5RaigarhRaigarhRaigarhKharsia, Gharghora, Dharamjaigarh
6RajnandgaonRajnandgaonRajnandgaonDongargarh, Dongargaon, Chhuriya
7KoriyaBaikunthpurBaikunthpurSonhat, Patna, Churcha
8SurgujaAmbikapurAmbikapurSitapur
9BalrampurBalrampurRamanujganj
10JashpurJashpur-NagarJashpur-NagarKunkuri, Patthalgaon
11SurajpurSurajpurSurajpurBishrampur, Bhatgaon, Pratappur, Prem Nagar, Ramanuj Nagar, Bhaiyathan, Odagi
12Janjgir–ChampaJanjgirChampaJanjgir, Akaltara
13MungeliMungeliMungeliLormi, Sargaon, Pathariya
14KabirdhamKawardhaKawardhaPandariya, Pandatarai
15BemetaraBemetaraBemetaraSaja, Berla, Navagarh, Deokar
16BalodBalodBalodDalli-Rajhara, Dondi Lohara, Dondi
17Baloda Bazar-BhataparaBaloda BazarBhatapara

Balodabazar, Bhatapara, Kasdol, Simga, Palari, Bilaigarh

18GariabandGariabandGariabandFingeshwar, Chhura, Gariaband, Deobhog, Mainpur
19Mahasamund districtMahasamundMahasamundSaraipali, Basna, Pithoura, Mahasamund, Bagbahra
20DhamtariDhamtariDhamtariKurud, Nagri
21BijapurBijapurBijapur
22NarayanpurNarayanpurNarayanpur
23North BastarKankerKankerBhanupratapur
24BastarJagdalpurJagdalpurBastar
25South BastarDantewadaDantewada
26KondagaonKondagaonKondagaon
27SukmaSukmaSukmaKonta
28Gaurella-Pendra-MarwahiGaurellaGaurella, Pendra, MarwahiPendra, Pendraroad
29Manendragarh-Chirmiri-BharatpurManendragarhChirmiriManendragarh, Khongapani
30Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai Khairagarh Khairagarh Chhuikhadan
31Sakti Sakti Sakti Baradwar, Malkharoda, Jaijaipur, Dabhra, Chandrapur, Hasaud, Adbhar, Bhothiya
32Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh ChowkiMohlaAmbagarh ChowkiManpur, Mohla, Ambagarh Chowki, Aundhi
33 Sarangarh-Bilaigarh Sarangarh Sarangarh Bilaigarh

Proposals for administrative reorganization

Proposals for administrative restructuring and boundary reorganization in Chhattisgarh are primarily driven by objectives related to decentralizing governance, accelerating economic development in remote regions, and improving public service delivery in areas historically affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). Proponents argue that smaller administrative units and localized headquarters enhance state presence and improve access to health, education, and infrastructure frameworks.

State Capital Region

There are ongoing proposals to officially establish a unified Raipur State Capital Region (SCR). This planned metropolitan region would encompass the urban areas of Raipur, Nava Raipur, Bhilai, and Durg under a single regional development authority to facilitate integrated infrastructure planning and investment coordination.

Proposed regional capitals

To promote balanced regional growth and decentralize administrative functions, several centrally located urban hubs have been proposed as regional capitals or primary divisional headquarters:

Proposed administrative divisions

List of Proposed Administrative Divisions
Proposed Division Expected Headquarters / Location Rationale for Creation
Rajnandgaon Division Rajnandgaon Proposed by relocating administrative functions from Bhilai to Rajnandgaon, an aspirational district hub, to improve administrative proximity and service efficiency across the western blocks.
Bijapur Division Bijapur or Puwarti Proposed to be carved out from the large Bastar division to establish closer administrative oversight in the southwestern interior districts.
Benoor Division Benoor, Kondagaon, or Narayanpur Proposed by relocating the current Bastar division headquarters from Jagdalpur to a more central location to bridge distances for interior forest-dwelling populations.

Proposed districts

List of Proposed Districts Grouped by Region and Parent District
Proposed District Current Parent District(s) Description and Rationale
Northern Region (Surguja Division)
Bharatpur Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur Comprising the existing Bharatpur subdivision located along State Highway 8 near the remote Madhya Pradesh border.
Sanawal Balrampur-Ramanujganj Located approximately 75 km away from the current district headquarters along the remote Renukoot–Bagharu–Sanawal–Ramanujganj road.
Kusmi Balrampur-Ramanujganj Proposed to address the geographic isolation of the remote hilly tracts situated between Balrampur and Jashpur Nagar.
North-Central Region (Bilaspur Division)
Dharamjaigarh Raigarh Currently an administrative block located 90–100 km from surrounding district centers; proposed to address tribal rights administration and local mining logistics.
Pamsala Raigarh, Jashpur, and Surguja Proposed as a composite border district situated 90–100 km away from existing peripheral district headquarters.
Chotiya-Parla Korba / Janjgir-Champa Proposed to serve as a centrally located administrative unit for the interior blocks of the central mining belt.
East-Central Region (Raipur / Bilaspur Margins)
Saraipalli Mahasamund Currently a major tehsil located 90–100 km away from regional administrative anchors like Raigarh and Champa.
Pithora Mahasamund Proposed to be carved out to create a separate administrative unit approximately 60 km from Saraipalli, fulfilling long-standing local administrative representations.
West-Central Region (Durg / Raipur Divisions)
Kothitola Rajnandgaon Proposed to facilitate localized socio-economic infrastructure delivery and accelerate the construction of the Pendrideed–Kothitola–Sakhritola highway link.
Badna-Kukdur Kabirdham Demanded to strengthen public utility delivery and develop transport infrastructure along the Kukdur–Badna–Motinala highway corridor.
Gudru-Semara Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara Proposed to create a comprehensive administrative district with Gudru as the district headquarters and Bhatapara as a major sub-divisional hub to balance holistic regional development.
Southern Region (Bastar Division)
Kakreli Bijapur / Narayanpur Proposed to improve governance accessibility across the remote borders of Bijapur and Narayanpur; incorporates demands for the Amdikanda area.
Pakhanjur Kanker Centered around a major town and nagar panchayat in the northern Bastar frontier to bring sub-divisional operations closer to local communities.
Bhanupartappur Kanker Located on State Highway 6; currently an established administrative block and legislative assembly constituency requiring elevated administrative status.
Bhopalpatnam Bijapur Located at a strategic tri-state border junction. The proposal envisions a collaborative regional infrastructure framework with Bhadrakali (Chhattisgarh), Somnoor Navin (Maharashtra), and Palmala (Telangana).
Puwarti Bijapur / Sukma Positioned in an interior forest tract straddling two heavily LWE-affected districts to prioritize proactive development and basic service delivery.
Konta Sukma A major border tehsil in the southernmost section of the state requiring localized administrative infrastructure.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2 new districts formed in Chhattisgarh". 12 May 2007.
  2. ↑ Creation of Chhattisgarh Government of Chhattisgarh.
  3. 1 2 "I-day: OBC quota to go up in C'garh; new district announced". Business Standard. PTI. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. 1 2 Anita (2 January 2012). "Chhattisgarh gets New Year gift - 9 new districts!". Oneindia. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bhupesh Baghel inaugurates Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi as Chhattisgarh's 28th district". India Today. Press Trust of India. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Chhattisgarh CM announces four new districts, 18 tehsils on Independence Day". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "छत्तीसगढ़ का 33वां जिला होगा खैरागढ़-छुईखदान-गंडई, CM भूपेश ने जीत के 3 घंटे बाद ही पूरा किया चुनावी वादा". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Electoral rolls". Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012.
  9. ↑ Chhattisgarh at a glance-2002 Archived 2012-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Govt. of Chhattisgarh official website.
  10. ↑ List of Chhattisgarh District Centres Archived 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine at'NIC, Chhattisgarh official Portal
  11. ↑ Mathew, K.M. (ed.). Manorama Yearbook 2008, Kottayam: Malayala Manorama, ISSN 0542-5778, p.518
  12. ↑ "Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi to become Chhattisgarh's 28th district on February 10". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi inaugurated as C'garh's 28th district". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. ↑ Ravish Pal Singh (15 August 2021). "Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel announces 4 new districts, 18 tehsils". India Today. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "SOCIO ECONOMIC INDICATOR 2015 - District wise Population, page no.- 06" (PDF). descg.gov.in.
  16. ↑ "Socio Economic Indicator 2015(District-wise Area, page no. 04)" (PDF). descg.gov.in.
  17. 1 2 "Chhattisgarh's Big Leap: BJP Government to Launch State Capital Region (SCR) for Integrated Urban Growth and Investment Boost". Indian Masterminds. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Dharamjaigarh district creation proposal under consideration", Patrika, 2024-03-15. Accessed 2024-11-08.
  19. ↑ "Pithora demands district status: CM Baghel's promise lingers", Times of India, 2023-11-20. Accessed 2024-11-08.
  20. ↑ "Demand for separate district for Bhatapara: Local MLA leads agitation", Dainik Bhaskar, 2023-12-05. Accessed 2024-11-08.
  21. ↑ "Tribal body urges CM to carve out Amdikanda district from Narayanpur", The New Indian Express, 2023-09-08. Accessed 2024-11-08.

Further reading