South 24 Parganas (also written as Dakshin 24 Parganas) is a district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies in the southern part of the state, stretching from the southern fringes of Kolkata to the Bay of Bengal, and includes a substantial portion of the Sundarbans mangrove delta. The district was formed in 1986 when the undivided 24 Parganas district was bifurcated into North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Division | Presidency division |
| Headquarters | Alipore |
| Formed | 1 March 1986 (bifurcation of 24 Parganas) |
| Region | Lower Gangetic delta, Sundarbans |
| Coastline | Bay of Bengal |
| Official languages | Bengali, English |
South 24 Parganas is the largest district of West Bengal by area. It is bounded by Kolkata and North 24 Parganas to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the south, Howrah and Purba Medinipur across the Hooghly to the west, and the international border with Bangladesh to the east. The terrain is a low-lying alluvial plain interlaced by tidal rivers and creeks, including the Hooghly, Matla, Saptamukhi, Thakuran, Bidyadhari and Raimangal.
A large part of the district falls within the Sundarbans, the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a designated biosphere reserve and tiger reserve. The mangrove ecosystem supports the Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile, Gangetic dolphin, and a wide variety of avifauna.
The district headquarters is at Alipore, located within the Kolkata urban area. For administrative purposes, the district is organised into subdivisions, including Alipore Sadar, Baruipur, Canning, Diamond Harbour, Kakdwip and Sundarbans (Gosaba). It is further divided into community development blocks, panchayat samitis, gram panchayats, municipalities and a number of census towns.
The region historically formed part of the larger 24 Parganas, a unit traceable to 1757, when the East India Company received the zamindari of 24 Parganas (literally "24 sub-divisions") from Mir Jafar following the Battle of Plassey. The area passed under direct Company administration and remained a single district through the colonial period and into independent India.
On 1 March 1986, the Government of West Bengal bifurcated the undivided 24 Parganas to improve administrative reach, creating South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas as separate districts.
The economy is mixed. Agriculture dominates the rural belt, with rice as the principal crop along with jute, vegetables, betel leaf and fruit such as guava and mango. Inland and marine fishing, prawn cultivation and aquaculture are major occupations along the deltaic and coastal stretches, with Kakdwip and Namkhana serving as important fishing centres. Honey collection from the Sundarbans by traditional mouli gatherers is an established livelihood. The northern blocks adjoining Kolkata are increasingly urbanised, hosting residential townships, small industries and commercial establishments.
The district is connected to Kolkata by the Sealdah South suburban railway lines, which terminate at Diamond Harbour, Lakshmikantapur, Namkhana, Canning and Budge Budge. National Highway 12 (formerly NH 117) runs from Kolkata to Diamond Harbour and onward to Kakdwip and Namkhana. River transport is significant for reaching Sagar Island and the islands of the Sundarbans, where road connectivity ends and motor launches and country boats take over.
Bengali is the predominant language. The population includes a significant Muslim community alongside a Hindu majority, and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe groups form a notable share, particularly in the Sundarbans blocks. Folk traditions associated with the forest and rivers — including the worship of Bonbibi, the guardian deity of the Sundarbans, and Manasa, the serpent goddess — are integral to local culture.
South 24 Parganas is significant for several reasons: it contains the Indian portion of the Sundarbans, a globally important biodiversity hotspot; it hosts the Gangasagar Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in India; and its northern blocks form part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, making the district both an ecological frontier and a fast-urbanising periphery.