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Banaskantha district

Coordinates: 24°10′23″N 72°25′53″E / 24.17306°N 72.43139°E / 24.17306; 72.43139
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Banaskantha district
Clockwise from top-left: Kirti Stambha in Palanpur, Gabbar Temple in Ambaji, Mokeshwar Dam, fields in Vadgam, Manibhadra Jain Temple in Magarwada
Map
Interactive Map Outlining Banaskantha District
Location of Banaskantha district in Gujarat
Location of Banaskantha district in Gujarat
Coordinates: 24°10′23″N 72°25′53″E / 24.17306°N 72.43139°E / 24.17306; 72.43139
Country India
StateGujarat
Named afterBanas River
HeadquartersPalanpur
Area
 • Total
6,176 km2 (2,385 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
3,120,506
 • Rank111 of 640 in India
5 of 26 in Gujarat
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialGujarati, Hindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationGJ 08
Websitebanaskantha.nic.in

Banaskantha district is one of the thirty-four districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters and largest city is Palanpur. The district is in northeastern Gujarat where the West Banas River runs through the valley between Mount Abu and Aravalli Range, flowing to the plains of Gujarat in this region.[2] The district is famous for the Ambaji temple which draws many tourists.[3] It has an area of 12,703 km2 and was the second largest district in the state until January 2025, when Vav-Tharad district was carved out of the western part of the district and remaining area of 6,176 km2 remains the same.[4]

Geography

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Banaskantha shares its borders with Rajasthan state in the North, Sabarkantha district in East, Vav-Tharad district in West and Patan district and Mehsana district in the South.

Economy

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It is the site of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University.[5]

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Banaskantha one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[6] It is one of the six districts in Gujarat currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901437,072—    
1911418,450−0.43%
1921440,891+0.52%
1931477,341+0.80%
1941548,737+1.40%
1951696,367+2.41%
1961899,989+2.60%
19711,146,159+2.45%
19811,514,121+2.82%
19911,981,513+2.73%
20012,504,244+2.37%
20113,120,506+2.22%
source:[7]

According to the 2011 census Banaskantha district has a population of 3,120,506,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Mongolia[8] or the US state of Iowa.[9] This gives it a ranking of 111th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 290 inhabitants per square kilometre (750/sq mi) .[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 24.43%.[1] Banaskantha has a sex ratio of 936 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 66.39%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 10.49% and 9.11% of the population respectively.[1]

Religions in Banaskantha district (2011)[10]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
92.62%
Islam
6.84%
Other or not stated
0.54%

Language

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Languages of Banaskantha district (2011)[11]
  1. Gujarati 96.35 (95.8%)
  2. Hindi 0.91 (0.90%)
  3. Marwari 0.6 (0.60%)
  4. Others 2.74 (2.72%)

According to the 2011 Census of India, 96.35% of the population in the district spoke Gujarati and 0.91% Hindi as their first language.[11]

Politics

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District No. Constituency Name Party Remarks
Banaskantha
&
Vav-Tharad
7 Vav Geniben Thakor Indian National Congress Elected to 18th Loksabha
Swarupji Thakor Bharatiya Janata Party Elected on 23 November 2024
8 Tharad Shankarbhai Chaudhary Bharatiya Janata Party Speaker[12]
9 Dhanera Mavjibhai Desai Independent
10 Danta (ST) Kantibhai Kharadi Indian National Congress
11 Vadgam (SC) Jignesh Mevani Indian National Congress
12 Palanpur Aniket Thaker Bharatiya Janata Party
13 Deesa Pravin Mali Bharatiya Janata Party
14 Deodar Keshaji Chauhan Bharatiya Janata Party
15 Kankrej Amrutji Thakor Indian National Congress

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "District Census Hand Book – Banas Kantha" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-02-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ TimesOfIndia (2025-01-01). "Govt announce 34th district of Gujarat with creation of Vav - Tharad; decision". TimesOfIndia. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  5. ^ Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University
  6. ^ a b Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  7. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  8. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Mongolia 3,133,318 July 2011 est.
  9. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Iowa 3,046,355
  10. ^ "Population by Religion - Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  12. ^ PTI (2022-12-15). "Gujarat's former State minister Shankar Chaudhary set to become next Assembly Speaker". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
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