Surguja district - Revision history

MarlonBernhardt: general updated intro per sources and improved wording after review

2026-01-17T10:43:12Z

general updated intro per sources and improved wording after review

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 17 January 2026
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	\| total_type = Total		\| total_type = Total
	\| native_name =		\| native_name =
			\| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
			\|size = 250
			\|photo1a = 0010622 Ramgarh hills Puta Sitabhenga and Jogimara Caves Chattisgarh 012.jpg
			\|photo2a = MAINPAT,AMBIKAPUR CG.jpg
			\|photo2b = 0010622 Bhadwaha Satmahala Chattisgarh 108.jpg}}
			\| image_caption = [[Jogimara and Sitabenga Caves]], [[Mainpat]] Hill Station, Satmahala ancient Mandir
	\| image_map = Surguja in Chhattisgarh (India).svg		\| image_map = Surguja in Chhattisgarh (India).svg
	\| image_map1 = ~~{{maplink \|frame=yes~~		\| image_map1 =
	~~\|frame-width=225 \|frame-height=225 \|frame-align=center~~
	~~\|text= '''Surguja district'''~~
	~~\|type=shape \|id=Q1805075~~
	~~\|stroke-colour=#C60C30~~
	~~\|stroke-width=2~~
	~~\|title= Surguja district of Chhattisgarh~~
	~~\|type2=line\|id2=Q1168\|stroke-width2=1\|stroke-colour2=#0000ff\|title2=Chhattisgarh~~
	}}
	\| map_alt =		\| map_alt =
	\| map_caption = Location in Chhattisgarh		\| map_caption = Location in Chhattisgarh
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	\| website = {{URL\|http://surguja.nic.in/}}		\| website = {{URL\|http://surguja.nic.in/}}
	\| official_name =		\| official_name =
	~~\| image_skyline = Glourious ambikapur.jpg~~
	~~\| image_caption = Reservoir near [[Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh\|Ambikapur]]~~
	}}		}}
	[[File:Sundaribai (Musée du Quai Branly) (4489842438).jpg\|thumb\|270px\|Adivasi decorative clay figures of Surguja district at the [[Quai Branly Museum]], Paris]]		[[File:Sundaribai (Musée du Quai Branly) (4489842438).jpg\|thumb\|270px\|Adivasi decorative clay figures of Surguja district at the [[Quai Branly Museum]], Paris]]
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	* Udaipur		* Udaipur
	* Dhourpur (Sub tehsil Lundra and Raghunathpur)		* Dhourpur (Sub tehsil Lundra and Raghunathpur)
	* ~~Batouli~~		* [[Batauli]]
	* [[Sitapur, Chhattisgarh\|Sitapur]]		* [[Sitapur, Chhattisgarh\|Sitapur]]
	* [[Mainpat]]		* [[Mainpat]]
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	=== Air ===		=== Air ===
	~~'''[[~~Ambikapur Airport]] now [[~~Ambikapur Airport\|~~Maa Mahamaya Airport ~~Ambikapur~~]]~~'''~~ is located at Darima, 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Ambikapur. The airport up-gradation work was finished in May 2023 at a cost of Rs. 48 crore from category 2C to 3C, to enable operations of 70-72 seater aircraft under UDAN Scheme. Making this the ~~Fourth Public Serving Airport~~ in ~~Chattisgarh~~ after Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur.		Ambikapur Airport, now [[Maa Mahamaya Airport]], is located at Darima, 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Ambikapur. The airport up-gradation work was finished in May 2023 at a cost of Rs. 48 crore from category 2C to 3C, to enable operations of 70-72 seater aircraft under UDAN Scheme. Making this the fourth public serving airport in Chhattisgarh after Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur. The airport is not functional at the moment.

	== Agriculture ==		== Agriculture ==
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	==Education==		==Education==
			{{Unreferenced section\|date=January 2026}}
	* Surguja University, Ambikapur		* Surguja University, Ambikapur
	* Govt. Medical college, Ambikapur Govt. Nursing college, Ambikapur Govt. Engineering college, Ambikapur		* Govt. Medical college, Ambikapur
	*Govt. Polytechnic College, Ring road Ambikapur		* Govt. Nursing college, Ambikapur
	*Govt. ITI college, M.G. road Ambikapur		* Govt. Engineering college, Ambikapur
	*Rajiv Gandhi P.G. college, M.G.road Ambikapur( Govt.)		* Govt. Polytechnic College, Ring road Ambikapur
			* Govt. ITI college, M.G. road Ambikapur
			* Rajiv Gandhi P.G. college, M.G.road Ambikapur( Govt.)
	* Rajmohini devi girls P.G. college, Gaurav path Ambikapur (Govt.)		* Rajmohini devi girls P.G. college, Gaurav path Ambikapur (Govt.)
	* Rajmohini devi agricultural science and research institute, Ajirma Ambikapur (Govt.)		* Rajmohini devi agricultural science and research institute, Ajirma Ambikapur (Govt.)
	*Govt.Multipurpose higher secondary school ,Gudri chowk Ambikapur		* Govt.Multipurpose higher secondary school, Gudri chowk Ambikapur
	*Central Govt.Sainik school, Mendrakala Ambikapur,		* Central Govt.Sainik school, Mendrakala Ambikapur,

	== Minerals ==		== Minerals ==
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	Surguja district is part of [[Sarguja (Lok Sabha constituency)\|Surguja (ST) Lok Sabha constituency]]. The assembly segments in Surguja district are: Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur. Lundra and Sitapur are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.		Surguja district is part of [[Sarguja (Lok Sabha constituency)\|Surguja (ST) Lok Sabha constituency]]. The assembly segments in Surguja district are: Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur. Lundra and Sitapur are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

	The current MLAs from Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur are Dr. [[Pritam Ram]], [[T. S. Singh Deo]] and Amarjeet Bhagat respectively, all from the Indian National Congress. The MP for Surguja is [[~~Renuka Singh~~ (~~politician~~)\|~~Renuka Singh~~]] from the ~~Bharatiya Janata Party~~.		The current MLAs from Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur are Dr. [[Pritam Ram]], [[T. S. Singh Deo]] and Amarjeet Bhagat respectively, all from the Indian National Congress. The MP for Surguja is [[chintamani maharaj]] from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

			==Geographical indication==
			[[Jeeraphool rice]] was awarded the [[List of geographical indications in India\|Geographical Indication]] (GI) status tag from the [[Geographical Indication Registry (India)\|Geographical Indications Registry]], under the [[Government of India\|Union Government of India]], on 14 March 2019 and is valid until 14 February 2028.<ref name=":0">{{cite web \|title=Jeeraphool rice \|url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/611 \|website=Intellectual Property India \|access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref>

			Jaivik Krishi Utpadak Sahkari Samiti Maryadit from Batauli, proposed the GI registration of Jeeraphool rice. After filing the application in February 2018, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2019 by the Geographical Indication Registry in [[Chennai]], making the name "Jeeraphool" exclusive to the rice grown in the region. It thus became the first rice variety from Chhattisgarh before [[Dubraj rice\|Nagri Dubraj rice]] and the 6th type of goods from Chhattisgarh to earn the GI tag respectively.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Chhattisgarh's Nagri Dubraj rice variety gets geographical indication tag \|url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-s-nagri-dubraj-rice-variety-gets-geographical-indication-tag-123033101208_1.html \|access-date=14 December 2024 \|agency=Business-Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=GI-tagged rice to get HS codes, will boost exports \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/gi-tagged-rice-to-get-hs-codes-will-boost-exports/articleshow/107678963.cms \|access-date=14 December 2024 \|work=The Times of India \|date=14 February 2024}}</ref>

			The GI tag protects the rice from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.

	==See also==		==See also==
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	==References==		==References==
	* Surguja ka ek Adhyaan, by Samar Bahadur Singhdeo, 1957 Varanasi.		* Surguja ka ek Adhyaan, by Samar Bahadur Singhdeo, 1957 Varanasi.
	* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Riyaste/Princely ~~stastes~~ aur Jamindariyaa (Vaibhav Prakashan, Raipur1, {{ISBN\|81-89244-96-5}})		* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Riyaste/Princely states aur Jamindariyaa (Vaibhav Prakashan, Raipur1, {{ISBN\|81-89244-96-5}})
	* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Janjaatiyaa/Tribes aur Jatiyaa/Castes (Mansi publication, Delhi6, {{ISBN\|978-81-89559-32-8}})		* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Janjaatiyaa/Tribes aur Jatiyaa/Castes (Mansi publication, Delhi6, {{ISBN\|978-81-89559-32-8}})
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-28T14:35:45Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Surguja district
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Chhattisgarh|District]] of [[Chhattisgarh]]
| total_type = Total
| native_name =
| image_map = Surguja in Chhattisgarh (India).svg
| image_map1 = {{maplink |frame=yes
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|title= Surguja district of Chhattisgarh
|type2=line|id2=Q1168|stroke-width2=1|stroke-colour2=#0000ff|title2=Chhattisgarh
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| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Chhattisgarh
| coordinates =
| coor_pinpoint = Ambikapur, India
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Chhattisgarh]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Ambikapur, India|Ambikapur]]
| parts_type = [[Tehsils of India|Tehsils]]
| parts_style = para
| p1 =
| area_total_km2 = 5,732
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 840352
| population_footnotes =
| population_urban =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1 = 61.16
| demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio
| demographics1_info2 = 991
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| registration_plate = CG-15
| blank_name_sec1 =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 497xxx (Surguja)<ref>[https://indiapincodes.net/Chhattisgarh/Surguja/ Surguja]</ref>
| website = {{URL|http://surguja.nic.in/}}
| official_name =
| image_skyline = Glourious ambikapur.jpg
| image_caption = Reservoir near [[Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh|Ambikapur]]
}}
[[File:Sundaribai (Musée du Quai Branly) (4489842438).jpg|thumb|270px|Adivasi decorative clay figures of Surguja district at the [[Quai Branly Museum]], Paris]]
'''Surguja district''' is a district of the Indian state of [[Chhattisgarh]]. The district is one of the oldest districts of Chhattisgarh. The headquarters of the district is [[Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh|Ambikapur.]]

The district lies in its eponymous Surguja dialectal region (where [[Surgujia dialect|Surgujia]] is spoken) and is to the east of the [[Vindhya Range|Vindhyachal]]-[[Baghelkhand]] region of peninsular India.

The district spread over a vast [[mountainous]] area inhabited by many different people groups such as the [[Gondi people|Gond]], [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]], [[Oraon people|Oraon]], [[Panika]], [[Korwa people|Korwa]], [[Bhuiya]], [[Kharwar]], [[Munda people|Munda]], [[Chero]], [[Rajwar people|Rajwar]], [[Nagesia]], [[Kanwar (tribe)|Kanwar]] and [[Santal]].

==History==
{{see also|Surguja State}}
According to legend, [[Rama|Lord Rama]] had visited Surguja during his 14 years of exile into the forests. There are many places in connection to epic of [[Ramayana]], which are named after Lord Rama, Laxmana and Goddess Sita such as Ramgarh, Sita-Bhengra and Laxmangarh.<ref name =surguja/>

Prior to the arrival of the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryas]], the area was ruled by the [[Nanda Dynasty|Nandas]]. In the third century BC the region was divided into tiny kingdoms. In 1613, a Rajput king belonging to the Rakshal clan attacked from Palamu in what is now Jharkhand, and took control of the area. In 1753, the Marathas invaded Surguja and forced the king to become a vassal. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the British gained control of the three princely states of Surguja, Koriya and Changbhakar. In 1820, Amar Singh was crowned as Maharaja. During the [[British Raj]] period, [[Surguja State]] was a [[princely state]].<ref name =surguja/><ref>{{cite web| url =http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/s/surguja.html| title =Surguja (Princely State)| access-date =2010-08-03| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100928121417/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/s/surguja.html| archive-date =2010-09-28}}</ref>

In 1951, Surguja became part of the new state of Madhya Pradesh. In 2000, it was one of the districts in the new state of Chhattisgarh.

==Geography==
It lies between 23°37'25" to 24°6'17" north latitude and 81°34'40" to 84°4'40" east longitude. {{convert|244.62|km}} long east to west and {{convert|67.37|km}} broad north to south, this land has as area of about {{convert|5732|km2}}.<ref name =surguja>{{cite web| url = http://surguja.nic.in | title = Surguja| publisher =Surguja district administration |access-date = 2010-08-03 }}</ref>

The high-lands of Surguja district have peculiar 'pat formations' – highlands with small tablelands. The Mainpat, the Jarang pat, the Jonka pat, the Jamira pat and the Lahsunpat are the major parts of the district. The average height of area is above {{convert|600|m}}. Some of the peaks are Mailan {{convert|1226|m}}, Jam {{convert|1166|m}}, Parta Gharsa {{convert|1159|m}}, Kanda Dara {{convert|1149|m}}, Chutai {{convert|1131|m}}, and Karo {{convert|1105|m}}. There are a number of other peaks. North–west Surguja is hilly in nature, and moving westwards, three distinct steps may be marked out: the first from Shrinagar on the east to the low-lands of [[Balangir district|Patna]] and [[Kharsawan]], the second from thence to the uplands around Sonhat and the third beyond Sonhat to above a height of {{convert|1033|m}}. Central Surguja is a low basin through which the Rihand and its tributaries flow.<ref name =surguja/>

The soil of the Surguja District can be broadly classified into four major types: red and yellow soils, [[Alluvium|alluvial soils]], [[laterite]] soils, and medium blue soils.

Red and yellow soils are derived from the parent rocks of the [[Gondwana]] System including [[sedimentary rock]]s. They are formed in-situ from the [[erosion]] of such rocks caused by rain. This soil is found particularly in east [[Sitapur]], south Ambikapur, central Surajpur and Pratappur blocks. The red color is due to wide diffusion of iron while [[Hydrate|hydration]] of [[Iron(III) oxide|ferric oxide]] results in a yellow color in the soil. This soil is of lighter texture and has a [[Porosity|porous]] and [[Friability|friable]] structure. [[Solubility|Soluble]] salt is found in small quantities. [[Lime (material)|Lime]], [[kankar]] and free kankar are totally absent. These soils are poor in [[potash]], [[nitrogen]], [[humus]] and [[carbonate]] and differ greatly in consistency, color, depth and fertility. On the uplands they are thin and gravelly, sandy, porous and light coloured alluvium, generally transported from elsewhere, are found along river banks in alternate layers of sand and silt in East Ramanujganj, North Ambikapur, and Surajpur, along the river banks of the [[Rihand]], [[Kanhar River|Kanhar]], and the [[Hasdeo River|Hasdeo]] rivers and their major tributaries. The colour of the soil is not uniform but varies from yellow to grey. [[Laterite]] soils are well developed on the summits of the plateau regions of Samri and Sitapur tehsil including Shankargargh, [[Kusmi]], Sitapur, Batoli and Mainpat blocks of Mainpat, Jamirapat, Lahsunpat and Jonkpat.

There are three river basins in Suguja district – those of the [[Hasdeo River]], the [[Rihand River]] and the [[Kanhar River]].<ref name =surguja/>

In winters temperature dips to below {{convert|5|C}} and in summers it rises above {{convert|46|C}}.

== Administration ==
Surguja district is divided into 7 tehsils:

* [[Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh|Ambikapur]]
* Lakhanpur
* Udaipur
* Dhourpur (Sub tehsil Lundra and Raghunathpur)
* Batouli
* [[Sitapur, Chhattisgarh|Sitapur]]
* [[Mainpat]]

== Transport ==
The District Headquarters of Sarguja is Ambikapur City. It is also the administrative headquarter of Sarguja Division. Ambikapur is connected with Rail, Road and Air transport.

=== Rail ===
[[Ambikapur railway station|Ambikapur Railway Station]] is connected to the [[Anuppur]] railway junction, a bordering town in [[Madhya Pradesh]], by a broad gauge railway. Trains reach [[Ambikapur, India|Ambikapur]] from [[Delhi]], [[Katni]], [[Satna]], [[Jabalpur]], [[Durg]], [[Bhopal]] and the state capital [[Raipur]]. More destinations, can be reached from [[Anuppur]] railway junction.

=== Road ===
Ambikapur is well connected by road to other major cities of Chhattisgarh such as Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai, Korba and Raigarh. Daily bus services also runs for Varanasi, prayagraj, Renukoot in U.P (170 km), Raipur (345 km) and Garhwa in Jharkhand, Aurangabad in Bihar. Bus services from Anuppur to Ambikapur operate via Manendragarh and Surajpur.

=== Air ===
'''[[Ambikapur Airport]] now [[Ambikapur Airport|Maa Mahamaya Airport Ambikapur]]''' is located at Darima, 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Ambikapur. The airport up-gradation work was finished in May 2023 at a cost of Rs. 48 crore from category 2C to 3C, to enable operations of 70-72 seater aircraft under UDAN Scheme. Making this the Fourth Public Serving Airport in Chattisgarh after Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur.

== Agriculture ==
About 90% of the working population depends on agriculture, in which 50.36% of working population are of cultivated and about 12.77% of the region are agriculture labourers.

Agriculture is directly connected with land and water resources. In Surguja the percentage concentration of cultivated land is maximum in central zone of the district stretching east to west direction. North and south of this one the percentage of concentration decreases, because of several factors, out of them here are two major factors.

The uplands and high lands are mostly covered with rocky wastelands, infertile soil, woods and scrubs, sloppy and forested area.

Unavailability of water for irrigation over most of area, improper drainage difficulty in digging wells due to rocky basement, undeveloped means of communication, transportation have restricted the extension of cultivated land.

On the other hand, the central surguja is relatively level and has fertile soils, some water is available for irrigation in various ways, and a means of communication is developed.

Double cropped area is generally associated with water supply, natural or artificial and the pressure of population. Wherever the physical condition permits and the pressure more over the land, two crops are raised in a year from the same field. As result, a particular pattern of use of land resources emerges, which helps in the delineation of planning regions on the basis of present available resources and the limit of their utilisation. Of course there is no uniformity in the distribution of double cropped area, but the study of its distribution will be of use in the need as well as the resources. Thus most of the concentration is to be found in two patches:
* Ramanujnagar block
* Ambikapur & Central North-East of Lundra, Rajpur, Shankargarh, Wadragnagar and Pratappur blocks

Almost the whole of the central plain has medium to relatively high value, with few exception due to local condition. In this part during summer most of the area remains uncultivated. Only in Ambiakpur block here is some concentration of double cropped area due to irrigation facilities. The per capita land is declining due to the increasing in rural population which can be fed by increasing the per acre output through bringing more and more cultivated land under double cropped system, by extending irrigation facilities, using better fertilizers and better culture.

The assessment of physical condition for different crops helps in arranging them so as to derive the optimum return of it, which may be done through the study of their distribution along with the average production. The production of land provided to different crops depends upon physically suitability of soil and availability of water etc. Not only this the local needs is also important in this connection. Roughly 41.67% out of the total geographical area is under cultivation.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Surguja district has a population of 2,359,886,<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite web|title=District Census Handbook - Surguja|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/22/2202_PART_A_DCHB_SURGUJA.pdf|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Latvia]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 13, 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Latvia 2,204,708 July 2011 est.}}</ref> or the US state of [[New Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-09-30| quote =New Mexico - 2,059,179 }}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 192nd in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert|150|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.74%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Surguja has a [[sex ratio]] of 976 females for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 61.16%.<ref name="districtcensus" />

The divided Surguja district has a population of 840,352, of which 136,702 (16.27%) live in urban areas. The divided district has a sex ratio of 980 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 4.77% and 57.40% of the population respectively.<ref name="districtcensus" />

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Surguja district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Chhattisgarh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11368/download/14481/DDW22C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#FCD116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|88.71}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Chhattisgarh|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|7.63}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|3.06}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.60}}
}}

===Languages===
{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Surguja district (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
|label1 = [[Surgujia dialect|Surgujia]] |value1 = 65.07 |color1 = moccasin
|label2 = [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]] |value2 = 13.20 |color2 = mediumseagreen
|label3 = [[Hindi]] |value3 = 11.83 |color3 = orange
|label4 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] |value4 = 2.71 |color4 = gold
|label5 = [[Sadri language|Sadri]] |value5 = 2.39 |color5 = burlywood
|label6 = [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] |value6 = 0.91 |color6 = peachpuff
|label7 = [[Odia language|Odia]] |value7 = 0.90 |color7 = saddlebrown
|label8 = Others |value8 = 2.99 |color8 = grey
}}
At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 65.07% of the population in the district spoke [[Surgujia dialect|Surgujia]], 13.2% [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]], 11.83% [[Hindi]], 2.71% [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], 2.39% [[Sadri language|Sadri]], 0.91% [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] and 0.90% [[Odia language|Odia]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Chhattisgarh |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10198/download/13310/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2200.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Education==
* Surguja University, Ambikapur
* Govt. Medical college, Ambikapur *Govt. Nursing college, Ambikapur *Govt. Engineering college, Ambikapur
*Govt. Polytechnic College, Ring road Ambikapur
*Govt. ITI college, M.G. road Ambikapur
*Rajiv Gandhi P.G. college, M.G.road Ambikapur( Govt.)
* Rajmohini devi girls P.G. college, Gaurav path Ambikapur (Govt.)
* Rajmohini devi agricultural science and research institute, Ajirma Ambikapur (Govt.)
*Govt.Multipurpose higher secondary school ,Gudri chowk Ambikapur
*Central Govt.Sainik school, Mendrakala Ambikapur,

== Minerals ==
Mineral belts of Surguja:
*Upper catchments of river or Sitapur-Samri belt: This belt is associated with eastern and south eastern part of the district. It abounds in bauxite and some amount of coal.
* Central-north Surguja (Wadrafnagar-Pa-–Pratappur-Surajpur-Ambikapur) belt: The reserve of coal, pyritic minerals, sulphur, mica berylluiim, byerites, copper, and galena are reported. Bishrampur, Bhatgaon, Tatapani, Ramkola, Lakhanpur and Basen are the main coal fields. Some fire-clay, mica, coal, galena, and silmenite are also reported in [[Wadrafnagar]] near the Uttar Pradesh border.

In Surguja bauxite deposits have been found in tertiary rocks. Due to decay and weathering of aluminium rich rocks, felspar usually kaolinised under tropical monsoon conditions, the weathering goes a step further and results in a residue rich in hydroxides of aluminium together with oxides of iron, manganese and titanium with sufficient contraction of aluminium hydroxides, economic deposits of bauxite originates. This process of 'bauxitisation' as it is called thrives well on a topographically elevated well drained plateaus of low relief. The recoverable reserves of bauxite in Surguja is 57.54 million tonnes, which is around 57% of total state reserve.

Out of 57.74 million tonnes, 42.21 million tonnes are under proved category, 13.56 million tonnes under probable category and remaining 1.76 million tonnes under are possible category. About 51 million tonnes of the total reserves are of metallurgical grade and the grade particular of 6 million tonnes are not known.

The economical deposits are located at entire pat (local name given to plateau or pleatux) region of eastern and south eastern Surguja including Mainpat, Samari and Jamirapat.

* Mainpat: bauxite is of good and thickness varies from 4–5 meters.
* Jamirapat and Samripat

Bauxite deposits of these areas are metallurgical grade I. These two major reserves are centred in Samri tehsil and adjacent plateaus – Jamripat, Jaranpat, Lahsunpat, Jonkapat and other small hill rocks.

Most of the coal in the Gondwana is found in Barakar series. Coal as a solid stratified rock composed mainly of hydrocarbon and capable of being used as a fuel to supply heat or light or both. The coal fields of Surguja belongs to Gondwana coal fields. The coal of this area is of good quality stream and gas coals. The coal fields of Surguja can be classified as:

*Middle Gondwana Coal Fields: Tatapani-Ramkola, Jhilmili and Sonhat
*Talchir Coal Fields: Bisrampur, Bansar, Lakhanpur, Panchbhaini and Damha-munda
*Mahanadi Valley: Hasdo-Rampur

== Politics ==
Surguja district is part of [[Sarguja (Lok Sabha constituency)|Surguja (ST) Lok Sabha constituency]]. The assembly segments in Surguja district are: Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur. Lundra and Sitapur are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The current MLAs from Lundra, Ambikapur and Sitapur are Dr. [[Pritam Ram]], [[T. S. Singh Deo]] and Amarjeet Bhagat respectively, all from the Indian National Congress. The MP for Surguja is [[Renuka Singh (politician)|Renuka Singh]] from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

==See also==
*[[Balrampur district, Chhattisgarh]]
*[[Surajpur district]]
*[[Ambikapur, India|Ambikapur]]

==References==
* Surguja ka ek Adhyaan, by Samar Bahadur Singhdeo, 1957 Varanasi.
* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Riyaste/Princely stastes aur Jamindariyaa (Vaibhav Prakashan, Raipur1, {{ISBN|81-89244-96-5}})
* Dr. Sanjay Alung-Chhattisgarh ki Janjaatiyaa/Tribes aur Jatiyaa/Castes (Mansi publication, Delhi6, {{ISBN|978-81-89559-32-8}})
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category | Surguja district}}
* [https://surguja.gov.in/ Official website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Surguja district
|North = [[Balrampur district, Chhattisgarh|Balrampur district]]
|East = [[Jashpur district]]
|South = [[Raigarh district]]
|Southwest = [[Korba district]]
|West = [[Surajpur district]]
}}

{{Surguja district}}
{{Districts of Chhattisgarh}}
{{Son basin}}
{{Mahanadi Basin}}

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[[Category:Surguja district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Coal mining districts in India]]