Chhattisgarh
Formation of the State and Administrative Structure
Administrative Structure of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh's divisions and 33 districts, 90-seat Vidhan Sabha, High Court at Bilaspur, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seats, and state symbols for CGPSC.
Prerequisites
- Formation of Chhattisgarh: the 2000 Act fixed the seat numbers and the High Court you meet here
- State Government: Governor, Council of Ministers and state legislature under the Constitution
- Judiciary: how High Courts are constituted
The Hook: Five New Districts in One Week
Connect
Between 2 and 9 September 2022, five new districts were inaugurated in Chhattisgarh: Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur and Sakti. Each got its own Collectorate (कलेक्ट्रेट), and the state’s total reached 33. For a farmer in a remote village, that can mean a shorter bus ride to the district headquarters for a land record or a certificate.
How is Chhattisgarh governed, from the Vidhan Sabha in Nava Raipur down to the district Collector, and what numbers must you know cold?
Why it matters: Prelims tests numbers (districts, seats, reserved seats) and “where is it located” facts (High Court, division headquarters). Mains GS-V can ask whether creating new districts and divisions improves service delivery.
The Administrative Ladder
graph TD
S["State Government - Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar"] --> D["Division (संभाग) - headed by the Divisional Commissioner"]
D --> Z["District (जिला) - headed by the Collector and District Magistrate"]
Z --> SD["Sub-division (अनुविभाग) - SDM"]
SD --> T["Tehsil (तहसील) - Tehsildar"]
Z --> B["Development Block (विकासखंड) - rural development"]
B --> P["Gram Panchayats - see Local Government chapter"]The district is the key unit of field administration. It is responsible for revenue, law and order, elections, and coordinating welfare schemes. Rural and urban local bodies sit below it; they are covered in Panchayati Raj and Local Government in Chhattisgarh.
Divisions and Districts
The Five Divisions (संभाग)
| Division | Headquarters | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Surguja | Ambikapur | North |
| Bilaspur | Bilaspur | North-central and east |
| Raipur | Raipur | Central plains |
| Durg | Durg | West-central |
| Bastar | Jagdalpur | South |
North to south
Read the map from top to bottom: Surguja → Bilaspur → Raipur / Durg → Bastar. Two division headquarters are not towns that share the division’s name: Surguja → Ambikapur and Bastar → Jagdalpur. Both are favourite one-liners.
How 16 Districts Became 33
| Year | Change | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November 2000 | State formed with 16 districts | 16 |
| 11 May 2007 | Bijapur and Narayanpur created | 18 |
| 1 January 2012 | 9 new districts: Sukma, Kondagaon, Balod, Bemetara, Baloda Bazar, Gariaband, Mungeli, Surajpur, Balrampur | 27 |
| 10 February 2020 | Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi inaugurated (announced 15 August 2019) | 28 |
| September 2022 | Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki (2 Sept), Sarangarh-Bilaigarh (3 Sept), Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai (3 Sept), Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (9 Sept), Sakti (9 Sept) | 33 |
Current count (as of 2026)
Chhattisgarh has 33 districts in 5 divisions (as of 2026). The count has not changed since September 2022. District counts change by government notification, so check current affairs before your exam.
State Executive
| Office | Constitutional basis | In Chhattisgarh |
|---|---|---|
| Governor (राज्यपाल) | Appointed by the President (Arts. 153–156) | First: Dinesh Nandan Sahay. Current (as of October 2026): Ramen Deka, in office since 31 July 2024 |
| Chief Minister (मुख्यमंत्री) | Appointed by the Governor (Art. 164) | First: Ajit Jogi. Current (as of October 2026): Vishnu Deo Sai, in office since 13 December 2023 |
| Council of Ministers | Art. 164(1A): at most 15% of the Assembly’s strength, and at least 12 | 15% of 90 = 13.5. Read for years as a cap of 13 including the CM; since 20 Aug 2025 the council has 14 (rounding 13.5 up, the “Haryana model”), an expansion challenged in the High Court (as of Oct 2026) |
| Secretariat (मंत्रालय) | — | Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar (since 1 November 2012) |
Why the 13-minister cap matters
Small assemblies hit the 15% ceiling quickly. Chhattisgarh’s 90 seats give 15% = 13.5, so the cap was long read as 13 ministers including the Chief Minister; on 20 August 2025 the council was expanded to 14 by rounding up (the “Haryana model”), and that expansion was challenged in the High Court. The “minimum 12” clause also applies. This is a neat statement-based fact connecting the State Government chapter to the state.
State Legislature: Vidhan Sabha (विधानसभा)
- Unicameral. Chhattisgarh has only a Legislative Assembly and no Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad).
- 90 seats, all filled by direct election. The split from undivided Madhya Pradesh’s 320 seats was 230 + 90.
- Reserved seats (after the 2008 delimitation): 29 for Scheduled Tribes and 10 for Scheduled Castes, which leaves 51 unreserved.
- Term: five years, unless dissolved earlier (Art. 172).
- First sitting: 14 December 2000, Jashpur Hall, Rajkumar College, Raipur. First Speaker: Rajendra Prasad Shukla.
- New building: the Vidhan Sabha complex at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, inaugurated on 1 November 2025, the 25th foundation day.
High Court of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़ उच्च न्यायालय)
- Seat: Bilaspur, not the capital Raipur. Its newer building is at village Bodri, Bilaspur.
- Established: 1 November 2000, under the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. It is commonly counted as the 19th High Court of India.
- First Acting Chief Justice: Justice R. S. Garg (from 1 November 2000).
- First regular Chief Justice: Justice W. A. Shishak (5 December 2000 to 15 January 2002).
- The High Court was inaugurated on 1 November 2000 by Justice B. N. Kirpal of the Supreme Court.
Representation in Parliament
| House | Seats | Reserved |
|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | 11 | 4 ST (Bastar, Kanker, Raigarh, Surguja) and 1 SC (Janjgir-Champa) |
| Rajya Sabha | 5 | No reservation in the Rajya Sabha; members are elected by the state’s MLAs |
State Symbols and Identity
| Symbol | Chhattisgarh |
|---|---|
| State animal | Wild buffalo / wild water buffalo (वन भैंसा) |
| State bird | Hill myna (पहाड़ी मैना) |
| State tree | Sal (साल / सरई) |
| State song (राजगीत) | “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar” (अरपा पैरी के धार), written and composed by Narendra Dev Verma. It was declared the state song by CM Bhupesh Baghel on 3 November 2019, during Rajyotsava 2019 |
| Official languages | Hindi, with Chhattisgarhi (छत्तीसगढ़ी) added by the Chhattisgarh Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2007 |
| Foundation day | 1 November: Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava |
Connect across chapters
The wild buffalo and hill myna are forest species, which ties this table to Forests, Wildlife, National Parks and Sanctuaries. The Arpa and Pairi in the state song are rivers of the state (Physical Geography). Chhattisgarhi’s official status is useful for Literature and Language.
Memory Tricks
The number chain: 5-33-90-11-5
“5 divisions hold 33 districts; 90 MLAs send 5 to the Rajya Sabha; 11 go to the Lok Sabha.” Say it as one sentence. All five numbers are favourite Prelims options.
Reserved seats: 29-10 and 4-1
Assembly 29 ST / 10 SC; Lok Sabha 4 ST / 1 SC. For the four ST Lok Sabha seats, picture the state’s tribal belts: north (Surguja, Raigarh) and south (Bastar, Kanker). The lone SC seat is Janjgir-Champa in the central plains.
District growth: 16 → 18 → 27 → 28 → 33
“2000, 2007, 2012, 2020, 2022”: +2 (Bijapur, Narayanpur), +9, +1 (GPM), +5.
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Raipur: capital; Raipur division HQ | Bilaspur: seat of the High Court | |
| Surguja division: HQ Ambikapur | Surguja district: also headquartered at Ambikapur, but the division is larger | |
| Bastar division: HQ Jagdalpur | Bastar Lok Sabha seat: one of the 4 ST seats | |
| 29 ST / 10 SC: Assembly reserved seats after the 2008 delimitation | Older figures from before the 2008 delimitation, still printed in outdated guides | |
| Act of 2007: Chhattisgarhi added as official language | 2019: “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar” declared state song |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: bicameral?
Chhattisgarh has no Legislative Council. Any statement that it has a bicameral legislature is false.
Trap 2: High Court in the capital
The High Court is at Bilaspur, not Raipur. Several states have their High Court outside the capital, and this is a common option-swap.
Trap 3: outdated district counts
Old books say 27 or 28 districts. As of 2026 the count is 33 (since September 2022). Always attach a year to a district count in Mains.
Trap 4: Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha
11 Lok Sabha, 5 Rajya Sabha. Options often swap them or give 10 or 6.
Practice
These are original practice questions in CGPSC style, not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- The High Court of Chhattisgarh is located at ________.
- Chhattisgarh has ________ districts grouped into ________ divisions (as of 2026).
- The headquarters of the Bastar division is ________ and of the Surguja division is ________.
Answers
- Bilaspur
- 33; 5
- Jagdalpur; Ambikapur
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about the Chhattisgarh Legislature:
- It is bicameral.
- The Legislative Assembly has 90 seats.
- After the 2008 delimitation, 29 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 10 for Scheduled Castes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 2 and 3 only. Chhattisgarh is unicameral: it has a Vidhan Sabha but no Vidhan Parishad, so statement 1 is wrong. The Assembly has 90 seats, set by the MP Reorganisation Act, 2000. After the 2008 delimitation, 29 are reserved for STs and 10 for SCs.
Q2. Match List-I (District) with List-II (Year of creation):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Narayanpur | 1. 2012 |
| B. Sukma | 2. 2022 |
| C. Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi | 3. 2007 |
| D. Sakti | 4. 2020 |
(a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2 (b) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2 (c) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 (d) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Answer and explanation
(a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2. Narayanpur and Bijapur were created on 11 May 2007. Sukma was one of the nine districts of 1 January 2012. Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi was inaugurated on 10 February 2020 as the 28th district. Sakti was one of the five districts of September 2022 that took the total to 33.
Q3. Which of the following Lok Sabha constituencies of Chhattisgarh is reserved for Scheduled Castes?
(a) Bastar (b) Raigarh (c) Janjgir-Champa (d) Kanker
Answer and explanation
(c) Janjgir-Champa. Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats, Janjgir-Champa is the only SC seat. Bastar, Kanker, Raigarh and Surguja are reserved for STs. The other six are unreserved.
Q4. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
- State bird: Hill myna
- State tree: Sal
- State animal: Wild buffalo
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(d) 1, 2 and 3. Chhattisgarh’s state bird is the hill myna (पहाड़ी मैना), the state tree is sal (साल / सरई), and the state animal is the wild buffalo (वन भैंसा).
Q5. Under Article 164(1A), what is the minimum number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, that a State’s Council of Ministers must have?
(a) 10 (b) 12 (c) 13 (d) 15
Answer and explanation
(b) 12. Article 164(1A), added by the 91st Amendment (2003), caps the Council of Ministers at 15% of the Assembly’s total strength and sets a floor of 12. For Chhattisgarh, 15% of 90 = 13.5: the cap was long read as 13, but the council was expanded to 14 on 20 August 2025 (rounding up), and that expansion was challenged in the High Court — so the maximum is a live controversy, while the minimum of 12 is settled text.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Briefly describe the constitutional machinery of the Government of Chhattisgarh: executive, legislature and judiciary. (60 words)
Model answer outline
- Executive: the Governor, appointed by the President, is the constitutional head. The CM-led Council of Ministers (capped at 15% of 90 = 13.5 under Art. 164(1A); 14 since Aug 2025, under legal challenge) holds real power. The secretariat is Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.
- Legislature: a unicameral 90-member Vidhan Sabha (29 ST, 10 SC).
- Judiciary: the High Court at Bilaspur, established 1 November 2000.
- Parliament: 11 Lok Sabha and 5 Rajya Sabha seats.
Q2. Chhattisgarh’s districts have doubled from 16 at formation to 33 today. Critically examine whether creating new districts improves governance and welfare delivery. (150–200 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Chhattisgarh went from 16 districts (2000) to 18 (2007), 27 (2012), 28 (2020) and 33 (2022, as of 2026). Each reorganisation was justified as bringing administration closer to people.
Benefits:
- Shorter distance to the Collectorate, courts and offices for remote, often tribal, villages. Examples are Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur in the south and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki.
- Smaller span of control for Collectors, which allows closer monitoring of schemes, PDS and land records.
- Security and development in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas, through more administrative presence on the ground.
- Regional identity and responsiveness: local demands get a district-level platform.
Costs and limits:
- New buildings and posts strain finances, and new districts often start with vacant posts.
- Gains depend on staffing, budgets and connectivity, not on boundaries alone.
- Political motives can drive decisions more than administrative need.
Conclusion: New districts are a necessary but not sufficient condition for better governance. They work when backed by staff, funds, decentralisation to PRIs under PESA, and outcome monitoring.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Divisions | 5: Surguja (Ambikapur), Bilaspur, Raipur, Durg, Bastar (Jagdalpur) |
| Districts | 33 (as of 2026); 16 at formation |
| District timeline | 2007 (+2), 2012 (+9), 2020 (+1), 2022 (+5) |
| Newest districts (Sept 2022) | Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Sakti |
| Legislature | Unicameral, 90 seats; 29 ST, 10 SC |
| Max ministers | 15% of 90 = 13.5 (Art. 164(1A)); 14 since 20 Aug 2025, challenged in HC |
| Governor / CM (as of Oct 2026) | Ramen Deka / Vishnu Deo Sai |
| High Court | Bilaspur (Bodri); est. 1 Nov 2000; first CJ W. A. Shishak |
| Lok Sabha | 11 (4 ST, 1 SC) |
| Rajya Sabha | 5 |
| State animal / bird / tree | Wild buffalo / hill myna / sal |
| State song | “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar”, by Narendra Dev Verma (declared 2019) |
| Official languages | Hindi and Chhattisgarhi (Amendment Act, 2007) |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- 5 divisions, 33 districts (as of 2026). Bastar’s HQ is Jagdalpur and Surguja’s is Ambikapur.
- The number grew 16 → 18 → 27 → 28 → 33 (2000, 2007, 2012, 2020, 2022).
- The unicameral Vidhan Sabha has 90 seats (29 ST, 10 SC). Its new building opened at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on 1 November 2025.
- The High Court is at Bilaspur, established 1 November 2000. Parliament seats: 11 Lok Sabha, 5 Rajya Sabha.
- Symbols: wild buffalo, hill myna, sal. Song: “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar”. Official languages: Hindi and Chhattisgarhi.
What’s Next
- Formation of the State: Quick Revision: the whole chapter on one page
- Panchayati Raj and Local Government in Chhattisgarh: three-tier PRIs, PESA and urban local bodies
- Population and Census: the people these districts serve
- High Courts: national framework for the Bilaspur High Court
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