| Ranchi district | |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Jharkhand |
| Subdivision Type2: | Administrative Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | South Chotanagpur |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Ranchi |
| Leader Title: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Shri Manjunath Bhajantri (IAS) |
| Leader Name1: | Shri Chandan Kumar Sinha (IPS) |
| Leader Name2: | Ranchi (covers entire district) Khunti,Lohardaga(covers some parts of ranchi district) |
| Leader Title3: | Vidhan Sabha constituencies |
| Leader Name3: | 7 |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 5097 |
| Population Total: | 2,914,253 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | 572 |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Hindi |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Regional |
| Demographics1 Info2: | Sadri, Kurmali, Kurukh, Mundari |
| Demographics Type2: | Demographics |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Literacy |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 76.06% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Sex ratio |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 949 |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Iso Code: | IN-JH |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Tehsils |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | LokSabha |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Ranchi |
Ranchi district is the most populous district of Jharkhand state in eastern India. Ranchi,[1] the capital of Jharkhand, is the district headquarters. It was established as a district in 1899.[2]
See main article: History of Ranchi district. Iron slag, potsherds and iron tools have been found in the Chota Nagpur plateau dated to 1400 BCE.[3]
Magadha Empire exercised indirect control over the territory, which lasted until the reign of the Ashoka. Kalinga rulers are believed to have ravaged the region during their expeditions to Rajgir and Pataliputra. Armies of Samudra Gupta passed through the region on their expedition to Deccan. Khukhragarh was one of the capitals of Nagvanshi dynasty.
With the expansion of the Mughal Empire, the Nagvanshis were forced to pay tribute, but they continued to rule and administer independently until the advent of the East India Company. Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo, Pandey Ganpat Rai, Tikait Umrao Singh and Sheikh Bhikhari played pivotal role in Indian Rebellion of 1857.[4] [5] During the period of the British Raj, Adivasis and other locals of the Chotanagpur Plateau continued to oppose the subjugation by the British, and the region witnessed a number of uprisings and revolts.
Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar. Ranchi used to be a preferable hill station in the past. Temperature ranges from maximum 42 to 20 °C during summer, and from 25 to 0 °C during winter. December and January are the coolest months with temperature getting to freezing point in some places of the city. The annual rainfall is about 1430 mm (56.34 inches). From June to September the rainfall is about 1,100 mm.Ranchi is located at 23°21′N 85°20′E.[5] The total area covered by the Ranchi municipal area is 175.12 square kilometres and the average elevation of the city is 651 m above sea level.
Ranchi is located on the southern part of the Chota Nagpur plateau which forms the eastern edge of the Deccan plateau. Ranchi is referred to as the "City of Waterfalls", due to the presence of numerous large and small falls of around the close vicinity of the city. The most popular ones are Dassam Falls,[6] Hundru Falls, Jonha Falls, and Panchghagh Falls.
The Subarnarekha river and its tributaries constitute the local river system. Dams in Kanke, Rukka and Hatia have been built over these channels to cater to the water requirements of majority the population.
Ranchi has a hilly topography and its combination with dense tropical forests ensures that it enjoys a comparatively moderate climate compared to the rest of the state. Previously, it was accorded a 'hill station' status during the British rule. Rapid population growth and industrialization have caused considerable change in the weather pattern and rise in average temperatures. This has resulted in gradual loss of this "Hill Station" like status.It also has numerous dams constructed in different regions of the city inside and on the outskirts.
In 2006 the Indian government named Ranchi one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 23 districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[7] In the aspirational districts, Ranchi have improved.[8]
Presently, Ranchi district is divided into 2 sub-divisions and 14 administrative blocks. On 12 September 2007, Khunti district was created by carving Khunti subdivision and its 6 blocks out of Ranchi district. Ranchi sub-division is further divided into 11 blocks: Angara, Burmu, Bero, Chanho, Kanke, Lapung, Mandar, Namkum, Ormanjhi, Ratu and Silli. Bundu sub-division comprises 3 blocks: Bundu, Sonahatu, and Tamar, The district has 7 Assembly constituencies, namely, Tamar (ST), Silli, Khijri (ST), Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke (SC), and Mandar (ST). Silli, Khijri, Ranchi, Hatia and Kanke are part of Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency.
According to the 2011 census Ranchi district has a population of 2,914,253, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica[9] or the US state of Arkansas.[10] This gives it a ranking of 130th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 572PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 23.9%. Ranchi has a sex ratio of 950 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 76.06%. 43.14% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes collectively account for 41.01% (SC 5.25% and ST 35.76%) of the district's total population. The prominent communities in this group, in terms of the district's total population, are Oraon (18.2%), Munda (10.3%), Lohra (2.46%), Bedia (1.32%), Ghasi (1.21%), Mahli (1.09%), Dhobi (0.73%), Bhogta (0.7%), Chamar/Mochi (0.63%), Dusadh (0.36%), Pan (0.33%), Karmali (0.32%), Chik Baraik (0.32%), Dom (0.29%), Kharia (0.27%), Bhuiya (0.2%), Santal (0.19%), Turi (0.12%), Rajwar (0.11%), Gorait (0.1%), Hari/Mehtar/Bhangi (0.08%), Ho (0.07%), Binjhia (0.07%), Pasi (0.07%), and Kharwar (0.05%). Other communities such as Gond, Birhor, Bauri, Kol, Kora, Chero, Bhumij, Kisan, Nat, Mal Paharia, Musahar, Banjara, and Asur/Agaria also have populations ranging between one thousand to a hundred.
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 30.23% of the population in the district spoke Sadri, 28.08% Hindi, 8.55% Urdu, 7.52% Kurukh, 11.88% Panchpargania, 4.70% Mundari, 2.51% Bengali, 2.17% Bhojpuri and 1.17% Magahi as their first language.[11]
Ranchi district is headed by an IAS officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner (DC).Ranchi district consists of 2 Sub-divisions and 18 Blocks.[12] The following are the list of the Blocks in Ranchi district:
| No. | Ranchi subdivision | Bundu subdivision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burmu | Rahe | |
| 2 | Khelari | Bundu | |
| 3 | Kanke | Sonahatu | |
| 4 | Ormanjhi | Tamar | |
| 5 | Silli | ||
| 6 | Angara | ||
| 7 | Namkum | ||
| 8 | Ratu | ||
| 9 | Nagri | ||
| 10 | Mandar | ||
| 11 | Chanho | ||
| 12 | Bero | ||
| 13 | Itki | ||
| 14 | Lapung |