Establishment and Geography
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Establishment Year | November 1, 2000 (Carved out of Madhya Pradesh as the 26th State of the Union). |
| Capital | Raipur |
| Borders | The state is bordered by: |
| | North: Uttar Pradesh |
| | Northeast: Jharkhand |
| | East: Odisha |
| | South: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| | West: Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh |
| Area | 135,194 \text{ sq km} (Ninth largest state in India by area). |
| Nickname | "Rice Bowl of Central India" (Due to high rice production). |
Population, Languages, and Religion
The data below is primarily based on the 2011 Census of India, as the 2021 census is delayed.
Population (2011 Census)
* Total Population: 25,545,198 (Approximately 2.56 Crores)
* Population Density: 189 persons per sq km
* Literacy Rate: 70.28\%
Major Languages Spoken
* Chhattisgarhi (A language of the Eastern Hindi group)
* Hindi (Official language)
* Various tribal languages and dialects.
Religion (2011 Census)
* Hindu: 93.25\%
* Muslim (Islam): 2.02\%
* Christian: 1.92\%
* Other Religions and Persuasions: 1.94\% (Includes Sarnaism and other indigenous tribal faiths)
Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh (Since Formation)
Chhattisgarh has had a stable political history since its formation.
| Chief Minister | Party | Joined Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajit Jogi | Indian National Congress (INC) | 01 Nov 2000 | 06 Dec 2003 |
| Raman Singh | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 07 Dec 2003 | 17 Dec 2018 |
| Bhupesh Baghel | Indian National Congress (INC) | 17 Dec 2018 | 13 Dec 2023 |
| Vishnu Deo Sai | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 13 Dec 2023 | Present |
President's Rule
* Number of Times President's Rule Imposed: Zero (0)
* Chhattisgarh is one of the few states in India (along with Telangana) where President's Rule, under Article 356 of the Constitution, has never been imposed since its formation.
Famous Places and Products
Famous Tourist/Historical Places
Chhattisgarh is renowned for its natural beauty, waterfalls, ancient temples, and tribal culture.
* Chitrakote Falls: Often called "The Niagara of India", this wide horseshoe-shaped waterfall is on the Indravati River near Jagdalpur.
* Tirathgarh Falls: A tiered waterfall located inside the Kanger Valley National Park.
* Bastar Region: Famous for its rich tribal culture, forests, and the Bastar Dussehra festival (lasting 75 days).
* Kanger Valley National Park: Known for its biodiversity and unique features like the Kailash Caves and Kotumsar Caves.
* Sirpur: An important archaeological site with ancient Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments and temples (like the Laxman Temple).
* Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada: A highly revered temple and one of the 52 Shakti Peethas.
Products and Industrial Significance
Chhattisgarh is extremely rich in mineral resources and is a major industrial hub.
* Mineral and Industrial Products:
* Steel: Home to the Bhilai Steel Plant (one of India's largest).
* Coal, Iron Ore, Dolomite, and Tin Ore: It is the only tin-ore producing state in India and has significant reserves of coal and iron.
* Power Generation: A major hub for thermal power generation.
* Agricultural Product:
* Rice: It is the primary agricultural product, giving the state its "Rice Bowl" title.
* Handicrafts (Famous in India and Globally):
* Dokra Art: Non-ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax technique, created by the tribal communities.
* Wrought Iron Craft and Terracotta Art.
