Ambedkar Nagar is a district in the eastern part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It forms part of the Faizabad division (now also referred to as the Ayodhya division) and is named after Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution of India. The district headquarters is located at Akbarpur, a town situated on the banks of the river Tons.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Ayodhya (Faizabad) |
| Headquarters | Akbarpur |
| Established | 29 September 1995 |
| Named after | B. R. Ambedkar |
| Major river | Tons (Tamsa) |
| Official languages | Hindi, Urdu |
Formation
Ambedkar Nagar district was carved out of the erstwhile Faizabad district on 29 September 1995, during the chief ministership of Mayawati. The new district was created to improve administrative reach in the eastern tehsils of Faizabad and was named in honour of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Geography
The district lies in the eastern Awadh region. It is bordered by Ayodhya district to the west, Basti and Sant Kabir Nagar to the north, Azamgarh to the east, and Sultanpur and Amethi to the south. The terrain is flat alluvial plain typical of the middle Ganga basin, drained mainly by the Ghaghra (Saryu) along its northern fringe and the Tons river which flows through the heart of the district. Agriculture, supported by canal and tube-well irrigation, is the dominant land use, with paddy, wheat and sugarcane as principal crops.
Administration
The district is administratively divided into five tehsils:
- Akbarpur
- Tanda
- Jalalpur
- Bhiti (Alapur)
- Bhiyaon (Katehari)
It is further divided into community development blocks for rural administration, and contains the municipal towns of Akbarpur, Tanda, Jalalpur and Iltifatganj, among others. The district is part of the Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha constituency, and contains assembly segments including Akbarpur, Katehari, Tanda, Jalalpur and Alapur.
Economy
The economy of Ambedkar Nagar is predominantly agrarian. The town of Tanda is historically significant as a centre of handloom weaving, particularly cotton textiles, and remains one of the notable handloom clusters of Uttar Pradesh. The Tanda Thermal Power Plant, operated by NTPC, is located in the district and is a major source of electricity generation in the region.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census of India, Ambedkar Nagar had a population of approximately 23.97 lakh (2.39 million). The sex ratio and literacy rate were both above the state average. Hindus form the majority of the population, with a sizeable Muslim minority concentrated particularly in Tanda and Jalalpur. Awadhi is widely spoken alongside standard Hindi and Urdu.
Culture and notable places
- Shravan Kshetra (Shravan Dham) – associated with the legend of Shravan Kumar from the Ramayana.
- Govind Sahab – a religious site associated with the saint Baba Govind Sahab, where an annual fair (Kartik Purnima mela) is held.