Scopex at 13:27, 11 March 2026

2026-03-11T13:27:57Z

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{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Balasore}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=November 2018}}
{{original research|date=October 2021}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Balasore district
| native_name =
| other_name = Baleswar district
| nickname = Granary of Odisha
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Odisha|District]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a = Sculptures at Emami Jagannath Temple, Balasore, Odisha 11.jpg
|photo1b = Nilagiri Palace, Balasore.jpg
|photo2a = Haji Nariruddin U.P (M.E.) and High School in Balasore, Odisha, India.jpg
|photo2b = Remuna Khirachora Gopinath Temple Outside View.jpg
|photo3a = Sun Rise at Chandipur Sea Beach.JPG
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Clockwise from top-left: Emami Jagannath Temple, Nilagiri Palace, [[Khirachora Gopinatha Temple]] in [[Remuna]], [[Chandipur, Odisha|Chandipur Beach]]
| image_map =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Odisha
| coordinates = {{coord|21.5|N|86.9|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Orissa Flag(INDIA).png}} [[Odisha]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1828
| founder =
| named_for =
| seat_type = Headquarter
| seat = [[Balasore]]
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title = Member of Parliament
| leader_name = [[Pratap Chandra Sarangi]]
| leader_party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| leader_title1 = [[District collector|Collector & District Magistrate]]
| leader_name1 = Satya Sarathi Panda<ref name="baleswar.nic.in">{{Cite web|title=Who's Who {{!}} Baleswar District Government of Odisha {{!}} India|url=https://baleswar.nic.in/about-district/whos-who/|access-date=2021-01-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
| leader_title2 = [[Superintendent of Police (India)|Superintendent of Police]]
| leader_name2 = Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra, [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]<ref name="baleswar.nic.in"/>
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 3634
| area_blank1_title = Forest
| area_blank1_km2 = 441.3
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 90.08
| total_type = Total
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 23,17,419
| population_rank = 4
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban = {{number and percent|253293|2317419|2}}
| population_blank2_title = [[Scheduled Tribes]]
| population_blank2 = {{number and percent|275678|2317419|2}}
| population_blank1_title = [[Scheduled Castes]]
| population_blank1 = {{number and percent|478586|2317419|2}}
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name=districtcensus/>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 756 xxx
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 06782
| registration_plate = OD-01
| blank1_name_sec1 = Coastline
| blank1_info_sec1 = {{Convert|137|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank3_info_sec1 = 957 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank4_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank4_info_sec1 = 80.66%
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Aw]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])
| blank2_name_sec2 = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank2_info_sec2 = {{convert|1583|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| blank3_name_sec2 = Avg. summer temperature
| blank3_info_sec2 = {{convert|43.1|°C|°F}}
| blank4_name_sec2 = Avg. winter temperature
| blank4_info_sec2 = {{convert|10.6|°C|°F}}
| website = {{URL|baleswar.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}
'''Balasore district''', also known as '''Baleswar district''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Baleswar |url=http://baleswar.nic.in |website=Government of Odisha |access-date=18 June 2023 }}</ref> is an administrative district of [[Odisha]] state, in eastern [[India]]. Balasore is one of the coastal districts of Odisha and lies on the northernmost part of the state.

== Etymology ==
Baleswar is said to have got its name through the regional derivation of the word ''Baneswar'', from Hindu deity Baneshwar (Shiva), the presiding deity of the town. The Siva temple, [[Baneswara Temple, Balasore|Baneswara Temple]] is located in Puruna Baleswar ({{literally|Old Baleswar}}).<ref>{{citation |title=ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS BALASORE |publisher=GAD, Govt of Odisha |url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/CHAPTER-1_2.pdf |page=1 |date=1991 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} Baleswar District Government of Odisha {{!}} India|url=https://baleswar.nic.in/history/|access-date=2021-09-26|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Balasore#History|Battle of Tukaroi}}

== Geography ==
Balasore district is located in the northeast of the state of [[Odisha]] and lies between 21° 3' to 21° 59' north latitude and 86° 20' to 87° 29' east longitude. The average altitude of the district is 19.08-metre. The district has a total area of 3634 km2.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Baleswar District {{!}} Baleswar District Government of Odisha {{!}} India|url=https://baleswar.nic.in/about-district/|access-date=2021-01-04|language=en-US}}</ref> It is bounded by [[Purba Medinipur district|Purba Medinipur]], [[Paschim Medinipur district|Paschim Medinipur]] and [[Jhargram district|Jhargram]] districts of [[West Bengal]] in its north, the Bay of Bengal to its east, [[Bhadrak district]] to the south and [[Mayurbhanj]] and [[Kendujhar district|Keonjhar]] districts to the west.

The district lies along the Odisha coastal plain. In the southwest there are some small hill ranges. The [[Subarnarekha River|Subarnarekha]] is the main river, and it empties into the Bay of Bengal in the district.

== Transport ==
[[Balasore railway station]] falls en route on the [[Howrah–Chennai main line|main line connecting Chennai to Kolkata]]. [[National Highway 16 (India)|NH 16]] (erstwhile NH 5) runs through Balasore, and [[National Highway 60 (India, old numbering)|NH 60]], which connects Balasore to Kolkata, is a four lane express way.

The nearest airport from Balasore is [[Kolkata International Airport]] and [[Biju Patnaik International Airport]], [[Bhubaneswar]].

Balasore runs state Buses of ([[Odisha State Road Transport Corporation|OSRTC]]) which provide point to point service from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar (via Balasore).

== Demographics ==
===Population===
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=6,79,046|13=1911|14=6,69,624|15=1921|16=6,22,836|17=1931|18=6,30,857|19=1941|20=6,60,388|21=1951|22=6,58,742|23=1961|24=8,39,081|25=1971|26=10,91,230|27=1981|28=13,57,727|29=1991|30=16,96,583|31=2001|32=20,24,508|33=2011|34=23,20,529|source=Census of India<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=center
}}

As per the 2011 Census, Balasore district has a population of 2,320,529,<ref name="districtcensus">{{Cite web |title=District Census Handbook 2011 - Balasore |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/918/download/36540/DH_2011_2108_PART_A_DCHB_BALESHWAR.pdf |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> which is comparable to the population of Latvia<ref name="cia">{{cite web |author=US Directorate of Intelligence |title=Country Comparison:Population |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226212024/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=1 October 2011 |quote=Latvia 2,204,708 July 2011 est.}}</ref> or the U.S. state of New Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 Resident Population Data |url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=30 September 2011 |publisher=U. S. Census Bureau |quote=New Mexico – 2,059,179}}</ref> It ranks 195th out of 640 districts in India. The district has a population density of 609 people per square kilometer (1,580 per square mile). Over the decade from 2001 to 2011, Balasore's population grew by 14.47%. The district's sex ratio stands at 957 females for every 1,000 males. The overall literacy rate is 79.79%, with male literacy at 87% and female literacy at 72.28%. Urban areas have a literacy rate of 84.67%, while rural areas have a literacy rate of 79.18%. Urban areas account for 10.92% of the population. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 20.62% and 11.88% of the population, respectively.<ref name="districtcensus" />

===Religion===
Balasore district is predominantly Hindu, comprising about 94.7% of the population with 2,197,709 individuals. Muslims represent the second-largest religious group, making up around 4.1% with 94,254 adherents, while Christians account for a smaller 0.3%, totaling 6,434 residents. Other religious minorities include Sikhs (0.01%, 237 individuals), Jains (0.009%, 201 individuals), and Buddhists (0.005%, 111 individuals). Additionally, about 0.8% (18,345 individuals) belong to other faiths, and 0.1% (3,238 individuals) have not stated their religion.<ref name="census2011-religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11387/download/14500/DDW21C-01%20MDDS.XLS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520044022/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11387/download/14500/DDW21C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=20 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Census of India, 2011 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religious Demographic in Balasore District (2011)<ref name="census2011-religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11387/download/14500/DDW21C-01%20MDDS.XLS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520044022/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11387/download/14500/DDW21C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=20 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Census of India, 2011 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism]]
|value1 = 94.71
|color1 = orange
|label2 = [[Islam]]
|value2 = 4.06
|color2 = green
|label3 = [[Sarnaism]]
|value3 = 0.79
|color3 = maroon
|label4 = Other or not stated
|value4 = 0.44
|color4 = black
}}

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = left
| caption = Languages of Baleswar district (2011)<ref name="census2011-langreport"/>
| label1 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
| value1 = 88.30
| color1 = blue
| label2 = [[Santali language|Santali]]
| value2 = 4.11
| color2 = red
| label3 = [[Urdu]]
| value3 = 3.39
| color3 = Green
| label4 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| value4 = 1.30
| color4 = darkturquoise
| label5 = Others
| value5 = 2.90
| color5 = yellow
}}
At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 88.30% of the population in the district spoke [[Odia language|Odia]], 4.11% [[Santali language|Santali]], 3.39% [[Urdu]], 1.30% [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and 2.90% Others as their first language.<ref name="census2011-langreport">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Odisha|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10217/download/13329/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2100.XLSX|website=Census of India 2011 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

The local dialect of the region is [[Baleswari Odia|Baleswari]], a dialect of Odia. Other languages include Bhunjia, spoken by approximately 7000 [[Bhunjia]] [[Adivasi]]s<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor = M. Paul Lewis | encyclopedia = Ethnologue: Languages of the World | title = Bhunjia: A language of India | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=bhu | access-date = 30 September 2011 | edition = 16th | year = 2009 | publisher = SIL International | location = Dallas, Texas}}</ref> and [[Santali language|Santali]].

==Education==
The district constitute primary university is [[F. M. University]]. There is government medical college in district known as [[Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital]].
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bagudi (also known as JNV Bagudi or JNV Balasore) is a public [[Boarding school|residential school]] in Bagudi village (near Mangalpur) of [[Soro, Balasore|Soro]] block in the Balasore district.<ref name="JNV Gov">{{cite web |title=About JNV |url=https://www.navodaya.gov.in/nvs/nvs-school/Balasore/en/about_us/About-JNV/ |website=navodaya.gov.in |publisher=Government of India |access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref> Government-run, it provides education to children predominantly from the rural areas and economically challenged families. It was established and is managed by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (an autonomous organization of the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]] and [[Department of Higher Education (India)|Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education]]).In accordance with the [[National Policy on Education]] (1986) of the government of India, the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Bagudi in the Balasore district was established during March 1987.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=http://jnvbalasore.org/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 January 2021 |archive-date=21 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121155719/http://jnvbalasore.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Politics==
The district has 1 Lok Sabha [[constituency]] ([[Balasore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Balasore]]) and 8 [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituencies. The current MP from Balasore is [[Pratap Chandra Sarangi]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]].

The following is the 8 [[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Vidhan sabha]] constituencies of Balasore district and the elected members of that area:<ref>[http://eci.nic.in/delim/Final_Publications/Orissa/orissa.pdf Assembly Constituencies and their EXtent]</ref><ref>[http://eci.nic.in/delim/paper1to7/Orissa.xls Seats of Odisha]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ws.ori.nic.in/ola/mlaprofile/listofmem1.asp |title=List of Member in Fourteenth Assembly |work=ws.ori.nic.in |quote=MEMBER NAME |access-date=19 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502003512/http://ws.ori.nic.in/ola/mlaprofile/listofmem1.asp |archive-date=2 May 2007 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!No.
!Constituency
!Reservation
!Extent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks)
!MLA
!Party
|-
!35
|[[Jaleswar, Odisha Assembly constituency|Jaleswar]]
|None
|Jaleswar (M), Jaleswar, Basta (part)
|Aswini Kumar Patra
| style="background:#004225;" |[[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
|-
!36
|[[Bhograi Assembly constituency|Bhograi]]
|None
|Bhogarai
|Goutam Buddha Das
| style="background:#004225;" |[[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
|-
!37
|[[Basta Assembly constituency|Basta]]
|None
|Baliapal, Basta (part)
|Subasini Jena
| style="background:#004225;" |[[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
|-
!38
|[[Balasore Assembly constituency|Balasore]]
|None
|Balasore (M), Balasore (part)
| Manas Kumar Dutta
| style="background:#FF9933;" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
!39
|[[Remuna Assembly constituency|Remuna]]
|SC
|Remuna, Balasore (part)
|Gobinda Chandra Das
| style="background:#FF9933;" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
!40
|[[Nilgiri Assembly constituency|Nilgiri]]
|None
| Nilagiri (NAC), Nilagiri, Oupada, Bahanaga (part)
|Santosh Khatua
| style="background:#FF9933;" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|-
!41
|[[Soro Assembly constituency|Soro]]
|SC
|Soro (M), Soro, Bahanaga (part)
| Madhab Dhada
| style="background:#004225;" |[[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
|-
!42
|[[Simulia Assembly constituency|Simulia]]
|None
|Simulia, Khaira
|Padma Lochan Panda
| style="background:#FF9933;" |[[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
|}
{{Clear}}

== See also ==
{{Portal||India}}
* [[Baba Bhusandeswar Temple]]
* [[Rocket launch site]]s
* [[Proof and Experimental Establishment|Proof and Experimental Establishment, Chandipur]]
* [[Abdul Kalam Island]]
*[[Bhadrak district]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

===Gazetteers===
*{{Cite book |last=L.S.S. O’Malley |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.07379 |title=Bengal District Gazetteers: Balasore |date=1907 |publisher=Calcutta, Bengal Secretariat}}
*{{Cite book |first=Nrusinha Charan |last=Behuria |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Baleshwar |year=1994 |url=https://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/orissa-district-gazetteers-baleshwar |publisher=Gazetteers Unit, Department of Revenue, Government of Orissa |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823111441/https://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/orissa-district-gazetteers-baleshwar |archive-date=23 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 }}
*{{Cite book|last= Taradatt|first=Dr.| title= Odisha district gazzetters : Baleswar|url=https://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Baleshwar_Gazetteer.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823110644/https://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Baleshwar_Gazetteer.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2023 |year=|publisher=Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Gazetteers Unit, General Administration Department, Government of Odisha}}

== External links ==
{{EB1911 poster|Balasore}}
* [http://Baleswar.nic.in/ Official website of Balasore District]
{{Wikivoyage|Chandipur}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031031090909/http://astronautix.com/sites/balasore.htm Balasore] at [[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Balasore district
|North = [[West Midnapore district]], West Bengal
|Northeast = [[East Midnapore district]], West Bengal
|East =
|Southeast = ''[[Bay of Bengal]]''
|South = [[Bhadrak district]]
|Southwest = [[Kendujhar district]]
|West =
|Northwest = [[Mayurbhanj district]]
}}
{{Balasore district}}
{{Odisha}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Balasore district| ]]
[[Category:1828 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Districts of Odisha]]

Balasore district - Revision history

Scopex at 13:27, 11 March 2026