Sehore district is an administrative district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Its headquarters is the town of Sehore, located on the Bhopal–Indore road. The district forms part of the Bhopal Division and lies on the Malwa Plateau in the central part of the state. It is bounded by the districts of Raisen, Bhopal, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Dewas, Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram) and Harda.
| Type | District |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Bhopal Division |
| Headquarters | Sehore |
| Region | Malwa Plateau, central India |
| Major river | Narmada (forms the southern boundary) |
The district covers a transitional landscape between the Malwa Plateau in the north and the Narmada valley in the south. The Vindhyan ranges run through parts of the district, and the Narmada river marks much of its southern limit, separating it from Hoshangabad and Harda districts. The terrain consists of black cotton soil tracts suitable for soybean, wheat and gram cultivation, which dominate the local economy.
Sehore district is divided into several tehsils, including Sehore, Ashta, Ichhawar, Nasrullaganj, Budhni and Rehti. Budhni, located on the bank of the Narmada, is one of the better-known assembly constituencies of the district. The district administration is headed by a District Magistrate and Collector, with a Superintendent of Police responsible for law and order.
The town of Sehore was historically part of the princely state of Bhopal during the colonial period, and served as a cantonment town under the British. It was the seat of the British Political Agency for the Bhopal Agency, which oversaw several princely states of central India. After the integration of Bhopal State into the Indian Union and subsequent reorganisation, Sehore became a separate district within Madhya Pradesh, distinct from the carved-out Bhopal district.
The district economy is largely agrarian. Soybean is a leading kharif crop, while wheat and chickpea dominate the rabi season. Ashta and Sehore are notable trade centres for agricultural produce. Small-scale industries, agro-processing units and dairying contribute to the local economy, and proximity to the state capital Bhopal supports commercial activity.
National Highway 46 (earlier NH-12) passes through the district, connecting Bhopal with Indore via Sehore and Ashta. The district is served by stations on the Western Railway's Bhopal–Ujjain section, with Sehore Junction being the principal stop. Budhni lies on the Bhopal–Itarsi rail line.
The population is predominantly Hindu, with a significant Muslim minority concentrated in the urban centres of Sehore and Ashta, reflecting the district's links with the former Bhopal State. Hindi is the principal language, with Malvi and Bundeli spoken in parts. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including communities such as the Gond and Korku in the southern tracts near the Narmada, form a notable share of the rural population.