Chatra district is an administrative district of the state of Jharkhand in eastern India. It lies in the northern part of the state and forms part of the North Chotanagpur division. The district headquarters is located at the town of Chatra.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Jharkhand |
| Division | North Chotanagpur |
| Headquarters | Chatra |
| Type | District |
Geography
The district is situated on the Chotanagpur plateau and is characterised by hilly, forested terrain. Significant portions of its area fall within reserved forests, and parts of the district lie within the catchment of rivers that flow north towards the Ganga basin. It shares boundaries with several districts of Jharkhand, including Hazaribagh, Koderma, Palamu, and Latehar, and also adjoins parts of the state of Bihar to the north, including Gaya and Aurangabad.
Administration
Chatra district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner, who serves as the district magistrate and collector. Law and order is overseen by a Superintendent of Police. The district is divided into subdivisions and further into community development blocks, which contain a network of gram panchayats and revenue villages. For elections to the Lok Sabha, parts of the district fall within the Chatra parliamentary constituency.
History
Historically, the area that constitutes present-day Chatra was part of the larger Hazaribagh district during British colonial administration. Chatra was carved out as a separate district from Hazaribagh in 1991, when it was constituted as an independent administrative unit while still part of the undivided state of Bihar. With the creation of the state of Jharkhand on 15 November 2000, Chatra became one of the constituent districts of the new state.
Economy and society
The economy of Chatra is largely agrarian, with paddy among the principal crops, supplemented by forest produce. The district has coal-bearing areas linked to the larger coalfields of the region, and mining contributes to local economic activity. A significant share of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and several tribal communities of the Chotanagpur region are represented in the district.
Significance
Chatra is identified by the Government of India as among the districts that have historically required focused development support, and it has been included in central programmes aimed at backward and aspirational districts. It is also notable for its forest cover, including parts of protected areas in the Chotanagpur landscape.
Related topics
- Jharkhand
- Districts of Jharkhand
- North Chotanagpur division
- Hazaribagh district
- Chatra (Lok Sabha constituency)
- Chotanagpur Plateau
References
- Wikidata: Q1979499
- Official portal of the Government of Jharkhand
- District administration website, Chatra