Simdega district

Simdega district is one of the 24 districts of Jharkhand state, India, and Simdega town is the administrative headquarters of this district. As of 2011, this district is the least densely populated district and the third least populous district of Jharkhand after Lohardaga and Khunti districts.^[1] Simdega District was carved out from erstwhile Gumla district on 30 April 2001. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.^[2]

Simdega district
District of Jharkhand
River near Ambapani
Location of Simdega district in Jharkhand
Country	India
State	Jharkhand
Division	South Chotanagpur
Headquarters	Simdega
Government
• Lok Sabha constituencies	Khunti
• Vidhan Sabha constituencies	Simdega, Kolebira
Area
• Total	3,774 km2 (1,457 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	599,578
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
• Urban	42,944
Demographics
• Literacy	67.99 per cent
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Average annual precipitation	85% mm
Website	simdega.nic.in

Administration

Blocks/Mandals

The following are the list of blocks (10 blocks) in Simdega district.

1. Bano block
2. Bansjore block
3. Bolba block
4. Jaldega block
5. Kersai block
6. Kolebira block
7. Kurdeg block
8. Pakartanr block
9. Simdega block
10. Thethaitangar block

Panchayats and villages

• List of villages in Simdega district

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1901	179,857	—
1911	210,096	+16.8%
1921	202,128	−3.8%
1931	237,371	+17.4%
1941	253,770	+6.9%
1951	281,912	+11.1%
1961	315,806	+12.0%
1971	378,731	+19.9%
1981	403,900	+6.6%
1991	446,421	+10.5%
2001	514,320	+15.2%
2011	599,578	+16.6%
Source: Census of India[3]

Religions in Simdega district (2011)[4]
Christianity			51.14%
Hinduism			33.61%
ORP			12.35%
Islam			2.52%
Not stated			0.38%
*ORP mostly adherents of Sarnaism

According to the 2011 census, Simdega district has a population of 599,578,^[1] roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands^[5] or the US state of Wyoming.^[6] This gives it a ranking of 526th in India (out of a total of 640).^[1] The district has a population density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometre (410/sq mi).^[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 16.62%.^[1] Simdega has a sex ratio of 1000 females for every 1000 males;^[1] and a literacy rate of 67.99%. 7.16% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.45% and 70.78% of the population respectively.^[1]

Languages of Simdega district (2011)^[7]

1. Sadri (53.9%)
2. Mundari (22.5%)
3. Kharia (15.4%)
4. Hindi (4.02%)
5. Kurukh (1.44%)
6. Urdu (1.36%)
7. Others (1.33%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 53.91% of the population spoke Sadri, 22.50% Mundari, 15.44% Kharia, 4.02% Hindi, 1.44% Kurukh and 1.36% Urdu as their first language.^[7] Simdega is the only district in India outside of the Northeast that has a Christian majority.

Economy

In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Simdega one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).^[8] It is one of the 21 districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).^[8]

Popular places

• Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary known for wild animals including leopard, sloth bear.

Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary

• Kelaghagh dam: A dam on Chhinda river in Simdega. There is facility of boating through motor-boats and para-sailing.^[9]

Kelaghagh Dam, Simdega

• Ramrekha Dham - it is commonly believed that Lord Rama had visited this place in his exile years.^[10]

Ramrekha dham temple in Magh mela

See also

• Districts of Jharkhand