Sheikhpura district

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by PRADEEPHIR
Last edited September 28, 2026
This article is about a district in India. For the district in Pakistan, see Sheikhupura District.

Sheikhpura district
District
Location of sheikhpura district in Bihar
Location of sheikhpura district in Bihar
Coordinates (Sheikhpura): 25°08′20″N 85°51′12″E / 25.13889°N 85.85333°E / 25.13889; 85.85333
Country India
State Bihar
DivisionMunger
Established31 July 1994
HeadquartersSheikhpura
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesJamui (40)
Nawada (39)
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesBarbigha (170)
Sheikhpura (169)
Area
 • Total689 km2 (266 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total636,342
 • Rank38
 • Density920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy65.96 per cent
 • Sex ratio926
Time zoneUTC+05:30
PIN Code
8111xx
Websitesheikhpura.nic.in

Sheikhpura district is one of the thirty-eight districts in Bihar, India and a part of the Munger division with Sheikhpura as its administrative headquarters. Established on 31 July 1994 from the Munger district due to political efforts by Rajo Singh,[1] it was the least populous district in Bihar as of the 2011 census.[2] Shri Krishna Sinha, the first chief minister of Bihar, was born in Maur village, which is now situated in Barbigha block of this district.[3]

History[edit | edit source]

It is believed that during the Mahabharata era, a demoness named Hiḍimbā lived in the hillocks of Sheikhpura's eastern stretch. She married Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, and they had a heroic son named Ghatotkacha. The hill was later named Girihinda after Hidimba where Giri means a hill in Sanskrit, and the village of Girihinda still exists today.

Sheikhpura also served as a significant administrative center during the Pallava reign. It is also believed that the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri had the notable Dal Kuan (well) constructed there.

During the Mughal period, Sheikhpura was designated as a Thana. Under British rule, it became a Big Kotwali, and after independence, it was recognized as a Block. On 14 April 1983, Sheikhpura was established as a Subdivision. It was split from the Munger district into a separate district with headquarters in Sheikhpura on 31 July 1994 due to political efforts of Rajo Singh.[4][5]

Geography[edit | edit source]

The Sheikhpura district occupies an area of 689 square kilometres (266 sq mi),[6] comparatively equivalent to the Solomon Islands' Kolombangara.[7]

Administration[edit | edit source]

The Sheikhpura district is headed by an IAS officer of the rank of District Magistrate (DM). The district is divided into sub-divisions or Tehsils, each headed by a Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

These Tehsils are further divided into Blocks, each headed by a Block development officer (BDO).

Tehsils[edit | edit source]

The only subdivision or Tehsil in Sheikhpura district is Sheikhpura.

Blocks[edit | edit source]

The 6 Blocks under Sheikhpura Tehsil in Sheikhpura district are as follows:

Tehsil (Sub-division) CD Blocks Area (Km2) Population (2011) Density Villages (2011)
Sheikhpura Ariari 146.16 1,12,070 767 61
Barbigha 99.88 1,36,167 1,363 43
Chewara 121.61 73,267 602 39
Ghatkusumbha 80.28 48,346 602 23
Sheikhpura 181.24 1,99,011 1,098 69
Shekhopursarai 59.83 67,481 1,128 26
Total 689 6,36,342 924 261

Economy[edit | edit source]

Sheikhpura is one of the smallest districts of Bihar. The population of Sheikhpura primarily depends on agriculture. Bonded labour may still occur.[8] Small-scale mining operations of smaller hillocks with crushers is another of the main activities. In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sheikhpura one of the country's 250 most-impoverished districts.[9] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.[9]

Energy[edit | edit source]

The district administration is committed to diversification of energy supply towards green sources like solar energy. [10]

Education[edit | edit source]

As part of Bihar Government's initiative of opening at least one Government Degree College in each block of the state having zero college, four new colleges were inaugurated on 15 July 2026 by the Bihar CM Samrat Chaudhary. The four new colleges were opened in Ariari, Chewara, Ghatkusumbha and Shekhopursarai blocks of Sheikhpura district. [11] [12]

Colleges
  • R. D. College, Sheikhpura
  • S. K. R. College, Barbigha, Sheikhpura
  • S. S. College, Mehus, Sheikhpura
  • C. N. B. College, Hathiama, Sheikhpura
  • Sanjay Gandhi Mahila College, Sheikhpura
  • Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Ariari, Sheikhpura
  • Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Ghatkusumbha, Sheikhpura
  • Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Shekhopursarai, Sheikhpura
  • Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Chewara, Sheikhpura

Transport[edit | edit source]

The roadways and railways are the major modes of transport in the district. The major railways stations in the district include Barbigha, Sarsa Jamalpur, Matokhar, Sheikhpura, Sirari, etc.[13]

Politics[edit | edit source]

This section is transcluded from 18th Bihar Assembly. (edit | history)
District No. Constituency Name Party Alliance Remarks
Sheikhpura 169 Sheikhpura Randhir Kumar Soni JD(U) NDA
170 Barbigha Kumar Puspanjay

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901152,726—    
1911157,460+0.31%
1921149,761−0.50%
1931168,687+1.20%
1941190,743+1.24%
1951210,915+1.01%
1961246,528+1.57%
1971294,826+1.81%
1981350,677+1.75%
1991420,260+1.83%
2001525,502+2.26%
2011636,342+1.93%
source:[14]
Religions in Sheikhpura district (2011)[15]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 93.68%
Islam
 
 5.92%
Other or not stated
 
 0.40%

According to the 2011 Census of India, Sheikhpura district had a population of 636,342,[2] giving it a ranking of 516th in India.[2] The district had a population density of 922 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,390/sq mi).[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 20.82%.[2] Sheikhpura had a sex ratio of 926 females for every 1000 males,[2] and a literacy rate of 65.96%. 17.13% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 20.60% and 0.10% of the population respectively.[2]

Languages[edit | edit source]

Languages in Sheikhpura district (2011)[16]
  1. Hindi (56.9%)
  2. Magahi (38.2%)
  3. Urdu (4.70%)
  4. Others (0.23%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 56.90% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 38.17% Magahi and 4.70% Urdu as their first language.[16]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "महाभारत व मुगलकाल से शेखपुरा जिला का रहा है संबंध". Dainik Jagran (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "District Census Handbook: Sheikhpura" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  3. ↑ Ramachandra Prasad; Ashok Kumar Sinha (1987). Shri Krishna Sinha: a biography. N.K. Enterprises.
  4. ↑ "First shot fired in Bihar: Cong ex-MP killed". The Indian Express. 10 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via Press Trust of India. Sheikhpura is regarded as a fiefdom of Rajo Singh family. It was only due to his influence that a small place like Sheikhpura was carved out into a district.
  5. ↑ Sathi, Arun. "राजो सिंह के सपनों को वारिस का इंतजार" [Rajo Singh's dreams are waiting for an heir]. चौथी दुनिया. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Srivastava, Dayawanti; et al., eds. (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.
  7. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Kolombangara 688km2{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ "43 bonded labourers rescued in Bihar". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 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.
  10. ↑ "शेखपुरा में बिजली पर खत्म होगी निर्भरता, सभी सरकारी भवनों पर लगेंगे सौर ऊर्जा पैनल". Dainik Jagran (in हिन्दी). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "शेखपुरा के चार प्रखंडों में खुलेंगे नए डिग्री कॉलेज, आज होगा उद्घाटन, ग्रामीण छात्रों को मिलेगी उच्च शिक्षा". Prabhat Khabar (in हिन्दी). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "शेखपुरा में 4 राजकीय डिग्री महाविद्यालयों का शुभारंभ:मंत्री, विधायक, विधान पार्षद और अधिकारी रहे मौजूद;कहा-'मिलेगी गुणवत्तापूर्ण शिक्षा'". Dainik Bhaskar (in हिन्दी). 15 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Important railway stations". www.railyatri.in.
  14. ↑ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  15. ↑ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.

External links[edit | edit source]

  1. REDIRECT Template:Sheikhpura district
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheikhpura_district&oldid=564894"
Discover more