Surguja division

Surguja division सरगुजा संभाग
Division of Chhattisgarh
Surguja division Show map of Chhattisgarh Surguja division Show map of India
Coordinates(Ambikapur): 23°07′N83°11′E / 23.12°N 83.18°E / 23.12; 83.18
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
Headquarters	Ambikapur
Districts	6 (Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Jashpur, Koriya, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Surajpur and Surguja)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Website	surguja.gov.in

Surguja division is an administrative unit of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Headquartered in Ambikapur, it encompasses the northern part of the state, known for its dense forests, hilly terrain, and significant tribal population. ^[1]

History

The division was officially created by the Government of Chhattisgarh in 2008 to improve administrative efficiency in the northern tribal belt. ^[2] Historically, the area comprised several princely states, including Surguja State, Jashpur State, and Korea State. After India's independence, these were merged into the Madhya Pradesh state before becoming part of Chhattisgarh in 2000.

Administration

The division is headed by a Divisional Commissioner. As of 2026, it comprises six districts: ^[3]

District	Headquarters	Area (km²)	Established
Surguja	Ambikapur	5,732	1948
Jashpur	Jashpur Nagar	6,457	1998
Koriya	Baikunthpur	5,978	1998
Surajpur	Surajpur	2,787	2012
Balrampur-Ramanujganj	Balrampur	3,806	2012
Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur	Manendragarh	4,226	2022

Economy

The economy of the Surguja division is primarily driven by agriculture and mining:

• Coal Mining: The division contains significant coal reserves, with major mines operated by South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) in the Hasdeo-Arand and Chirimiri regions. ^[4]
• Agriculture: It is known for the production of aromatic rice varieties and forest produce like Mahua and Tendu leaves.

Geography

The region is part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and features the Mainpat plateau, often referred to as the "Shimla of Chhattisgarh" due to its cool climate and Tibetan settlement. ^[5]

References

1. Behera, Partha (25 December 2025). "Administrative restructuring in North Chhattisgarh". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
2. "Surguja: From Princely State to Administrative Division". News Riveting. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
3. "Chhattisgarh's New Administrative Map: Understanding the 33 Districts". The Hindu. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
4. "Mining and Steel: The Twin Engines of Chhattisgarh Economy". Business Standard. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
5. "Mainpat: The cultural and natural jewel of Surguja". The Pioneer. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2026.