Sonepur fair, Saran (illustration)
DistrictOpen government dataSonepur fair · illustration

Saran District

सारण · Bihar

Blocks
20
Gram Panchayats
323
Population (2011)
39.52 lakh
Literacy rate
66.0%

Quick answer

Saran is a district in Saran Division, Bihar, with 20 blocks, 20 anchals (circles) and 323 gram panchayats (LGD code 218). Its population was 39.52 lakh in the 2011 Census, with a literacy rate of 66.0%. The district elects 10 MLAs to the Bihar Vidhan Sabha.

· Sources: LGD, Election Commission of India, Census 2011 and other open government data

About Saran District

Saran (सारण) district is in the Saran Division of Bihar, with its headquarters at Chhapra. It has 20 anchals (circles) for revenue work and 20 development blocks with 323 gram panchayats between them. LGD code: 218.

Census 2011 counted 39.52 lakh people in the district, spread over 2,641 km² (about 1,496 people per km²). Literacy was 66.0%, and there were 954 women for every 1,000 men.

The district sends 10 MLAs to the Bihar Vidhan Sabha (Taraiya, Baniapur, Manjhi, Garkha, Amnour, Ekma, Sonpur, Marhaura and 2 more) and falls in the Maharajganj and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies.

Saran at a glance

NameSaran / सारण
TypeDistrict
LGD code218
DivisionSaran Division
StateBihar
Gram Panchayats323
Villages1,729
Blocks20
Anchals (Circles)20
Population (2011)39,51,862
Households6,31,097
Literacy rate66.0%
Sex ratio954
Area2,641.0 km²
HeadquartersChhapra
Coordinates25.9167° N, 84.7500° E
Census 2011 code219
WikidataQ100146
Schools3,043
Bank Branches139
Post Offices393

Map of Saran

Points are approximate, based on State Election Commission polling-centre locations. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Saran District LGD code

LGD code
Census 2011 code

The LGD (Local Government Directory) code is a permanent number the Government of India gives every village, panchayat, block and district. eGramSwaraj, nrega.nic.in and many other portals look places up by it, so keep it handy when you fill in an online form.

Saran District Block List

Saran district has 20 development blocks. Each block page lists its gram panchayats, explains what the block office does and sums up local facilities.

BlockName in HindiGram PanchayatsVillages
Amnourअमनौर18118Gram Panchayat list
Baniapurबनियापुर25113Gram Panchayat list
Chhapraछपरा21110Gram Panchayat list
Dariapurदरियापुर22191Gram Panchayat list
Dighwaraदिघवारा1047Gram Panchayat list
Ekmaएकमा1886Gram Panchayat list
Garkhaगरखा23113Gram Panchayat list
Isuapurइशुपुर1363Gram Panchayat list
Jalalpurजलालपुर1570Gram Panchayat list
Lahladpurलहलादपुर839Gram Panchayat list
Makerमकेर841Gram Panchayat list
Manjhiमांझी25122Gram Panchayat list
Marhaurahमढ़ौरा21106Gram Panchayat list
Mashrakhमशरख1766Gram Panchayat list
Nagraनगरा1059Gram Panchayat list
Panapurपानापुर1169Gram Panchayat list
Parsaपरसा1380Gram Panchayat list
Revelganjरिविलगंज952Gram Panchayat list
Sonepurसोनपुर2398Gram Panchayat list
Taraiyaतरैया1386Gram Panchayat list

Saran District Anchal List

Saran has 20 anchals (circles). This is where you go for land records, certificates and revenue court cases:

Population of Saran

Population
39,51,862
Households
6,31,097
Literacy rate
66.0%
Sex ratio
954

Census 2011 counted 39,51,862 people in Saran (20,22,821 male, 19,29,041 female) in 6,31,097 households, or about 6.3 per household. At 66.0%, literacy is higher than the Bihar average of 61.8%. Male literacy is 77.0% against 54.4% for women, a gap of 22.6 percentage points.

There are 954 females for every 1,000 males, compared with 918 in Bihar. Scheduled Castes make up 12.0% of the population and Scheduled Tribes 0.9%. Children aged 0–6 make up 17.2% of residents.

91.1% of Saran’s people live in villages and 8.9% in towns and cities.

Overall literacy66.0%
Male literacy77.0%
Female literacy54.4%
Census 2011, rural areas
Rural population35,98,660
Rural households5,75,224
Rural literacy rate65.0%
Rural sex ratio958
Rural SC population share12.2%
Rural work participation26.4%

Health and household indicators (NFHS-5)

Key figures for Saran district from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21):

IndicatorSaran
Women who are literate65.6%
Women with 10+ years of schooling35.5%
Institutional births73.0%
Children 12–23 months fully vaccinated72.0%
Children under 5 who are stunted39.7%
Women (15–49) who are anaemic62.8%
Households using clean cooking fuel36.8%
Households with improved sanitation37.2%
Households with electricity93.6%
Households with health insurance9.4%
Households with improved drinking water99.7%

Work and livelihood

At Census 2011, 26.3% of people in Saran were workers. Of them, 22.3% farmed their own land, 47.4% were farm labourers, 4.0% worked in household industries and 26.2% in other jobs such as services, trade and construction.

Cultivators22.3%
Agricultural labourers47.4%
Household industry4.0%
Other workers26.2%

Administration

The District Magistrate (DM) heads the administration of Saran district. The Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC, also CEO of the Zila Parishad) oversees rural development schemes, the District Panchayat Raj Officer (DPRO) looks after all gram panchayats, and the Superintendent of Police (SP) handles law and order. The elected Zila Parishad, headed by the Zila Parishad Adhyaksh, is the top tier of Panchayati Raj.

Saran MLA and MP List

MP, Maharajganj

Janardan Singh "Sigriwal"

Bharatiya Janata Party2024 Lok Sabha election
PartyBharatiya Janata Party
Term / election2024 Lok Sabha election
Votes received5,29,533
Vote share52.2%
Winning margin1,02,651
Runner-upAakash Kumar Singh

Source: Election Commission of India, Lok Sabha 2024 results, 2024-06-04

MP, Saran

Rajiv Pratap Rudy

Bharatiya Janata Party2024 Lok Sabha election
PartyBharatiya Janata Party
Term / election2024 Lok Sabha election
Votes received4,71,752
Vote share46.2%
Winning margin13,661
Runner-upRohini Acharya

Source: Election Commission of India, Lok Sabha 2024 results, 2024-06-04

Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha seats in Saran

Panchayat elections

Mukhiya seats won by women
55%2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar
Candidates per Mukhiya seat
9.82021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

Women won 175 of the 318 Mukhiya seats in Saran in the 2021 panchayat election (55%), 34 of them on seats not reserved for women. 2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 9.8 candidates stood for each Mukhiya's seat in Saran, against 8.2 across Bihar.

How Saran scores on the Panchayat Advancement Index

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj's Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0) gives every gram panchayat a score from 0 to 100 on nine themes of the Localised Sustainable Development Goals. It uses about 150 indicators that panchayats report and block and district officials check.

PAI score
48.5/1002023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Across its panchayats, Saran averages 48.5 out of 100 in the Panchayat Advancement Index 2023-24, 37th of 38 in Bihar, slightly behind the Bihar average of 51.9. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

None of the 318 scored panchayats of Saran reached the Front Runner band (75+) in 2023-24.

Scores on the nine development themes

Poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods59.8
Healthy panchayat53.6
Child-friendly panchayat41.7
Water-sufficient panchayat44.1
Clean and green panchayat48.4
Self-sufficient infrastructure40.8
Socially just and secured67.2
Good governance53.9
Women-friendly panchayat43.2

Saran does best on “Socially just and secured” (67.2) and worst on “Self-sufficient infrastructure” (40.8). That 26-point gap shows where the next Gram Panchayat Development Plan could focus. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Schools in and near Saran

Saran District has 3,043 schools on record. See the full list of schools

This list comes from the Ministry of Education’s UDISE+ school register. It covers government, government-aided and private schools and madrasas, each by the highest stage it teaches, from primary to higher secondary. See udiseplus.gov.in for a school’s full record.

Banks (IFSC), post office (PIN) and CSC near Saran

On record in Saran District: 139 Bank Branches and 393 Post Offices.

Banks with the most branches here: State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.

State Bank of India38
Central Bank of India17
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank12
Canara Bank10
Bank of Baroda10
HDFC Bank8
Punjab National Bank6
Indian Bank5

Facilities at a glance

FacilityCount
🏫 Schools3,043View list
🏦 Bank Branches139View list
📮 Post Offices393View list
🚉 Railway Stations38View list

On average there’s one bank branch for every 28,431 people.

How to reach Saran

Bahuara station (4.0 km) is the closest railway station to the middle of Saran.

The nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport, about 50 km away.

PlaceTypeDistanceDirection
Bahuara (BURA)Railway Station4.0 kmsouth-east
Banni Mahamman (BMPT)Railway Station4.0 kmsouth-east
Paterhi (PEE)Railway Station5.6 kmeast
Jay Prakash Narayan AirportAirport50 kmsouth-east
Darbhanga AirportAirport121 kmeast

Distances are straight-line; by road it's usually 20–40% farther.

How far Saran is from everyday services

Straight-line distances from the panchayat's mapped centre to the nearest facility of each kind. By road, expect them to be 20–40% longer.

Nearest bank branch
4.0 kmCalculatedRBI bank branch list
Nearest railway station
6.0 kmCalculatedDataMeet railways

On average, a gram panchayat in Saran is 4.0 km from the nearest bank branch (closer than the Bihar average of 7.5 km). CalculatedRBI bank branch list

A typical gram panchayat in Saran is 6.0 km from the nearest railway station. Gram panchayats in Saran are, on average, 3.0 km from the nearest post office.

Places near Saran

These are the nearest Districts to Saran (straight-line distance). Handy for finding neighbouring villages, markets and offices:

DistrictDivisionDistanceDirection
SiwanSaran Division37 kmnorth-west
VaishaliTirhut Division38 kmeast
BhojpurPatna Division41 kmsouth
GopalganjSaran Division68 kmnorth-west
PatnaPatna Division70 kmsouth-east
MuzaffarpurTirhut Division72 kmnorth-east

Other Districts in Saran Division

Citizen services: how to get things done

Income, caste and domicile certificates

  1. Apply at a Common Service Centre (CSC) or RTPS counter or on RTPS Bihar (serviceonline.bihar.gov.in). Take your Aadhaar, a photo and a signed self-declaration.
  2. The application goes to your Anchal. The Rajasva Karmachari checks it in the village and the Circle Inspector sends the report on.
  3. The Circle Officer (CO) issues a digitally signed certificate, usually within 7–15 working days. Track it online with your application number.

Jamabandi / Khatiyan (land record) and Dakhil-Kharij (mutation)

  1. On Bihar Bhumi (biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in), choose district Saran, your anchal and your village, then search by account number, plot (khasra) number or name to see the Jamabandi / Khatiyan.
  2. You can get a certified copy at a Common Service Centre (CSC) or RTPS counter or the Anchal office. Check the status of a Dakhil-Kharij (mutation) case on Bihar Bhumi (Dakhil-Kharij status) (biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in).

Ration card

  1. To get a new ration card or add family members, apply on RTPS Bihar (ration card service) (serviceonline.bihar.gov.in) or through a Common Service Centre (CSC) or RTPS counter. The card is made out in the name of the eldest woman of the household.
  2. In villages, the block office officials check the application and the supply inspector or District Supply Officer approves it.

Old-age, widow and disability pension

  1. Apply online on RTPS Bihar (social security pension) (serviceonline.bihar.gov.in) or through a Common Service Centre (CSC) or RTPS counter. Attach proof of age (or of your spouse’s death, or of disability), an income certificate, Aadhaar and your bank passbook.
  2. In villages, the Block Development Officer (BDO) verifies the application. Once it’s sanctioned, the pension goes straight into your bank account.

Complaints and Right to Information (RTI)

  1. Complain about any government service on Bihar Lok Shikayat Nivaran (lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in) or call 1800 345 6284. It goes to the officer responsible, and you can track what happens online.
  2. To find out what the panchayat spent and on which works, file an RTI application (₹10 fee) with the Public Information Officer at the block office. Works and payments are also listed on egramswaraj.gov.in.

Portals and procedures change, so check with the office before you apply. If a link has moved, look for the service by name on the portal's home page.

Government schemes for residents of Saran

Households in Saran can apply for the schemes below, covering housing, work, farming, pensions, health, education and support for women. Each one shows the local office where you apply.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)

Financial help to build a pucca house with basic amenities for rural families who are homeless or live in kutcha houses.

Benefit₹1.20 lakh in plain areas (plus rural job scheme wages (VB-G RAM G, earlier MGNREGA) and a Swachh Bharat toilet)
Who can applyHouseless or kutcha-house families identified through SECC/Awaas+ survey and approved by the Gram Sabha
Where to applythe panchayat secretary and the block office

Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), VB-G RAM G (earlier MGNREGA)

From 1 July 2026 this Act replaces MGNREGA. Every rural household can get at least 125 days of paid unskilled work a year on works the Gram Sabha approves, such as ponds, roads, plantations and farm bunds. Old e-KYC'd MGNREGA job cards stay valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.

BenefitAt least 125 days of work a year at the notified wage, paid weekly or within 15 days into your bank or post office account
Who can applyAny adult member of a rural household willing to do unskilled manual work
Where to applythe panchayat secretary and the block office

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

Income support of ₹6,000 a year, paid in three instalments of ₹2,000 directly to the bank accounts of land-holding farmer families.

Benefit₹6,000 per year in three instalments
Who can applyFarmer families owning cultivable land (with exclusions for taxpayers, pensioners and officials); e-KYC and land seeding required
Where to applythe nearest Common Service Centre (CSC), online and the block office

Ayushman Bharat – PM Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman card)

Cashless hospital treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empanelled government and private hospitals; all citizens aged 70+ are also covered.

BenefitHealth cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year
Who can applySECC-listed deprived families, NFSA ration-card families covered by the UP extension, and senior citizens 70+
Where to applythe nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) and online

Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (household toilet)

Incentive to build an individual household toilet, plus solid and liquid waste management works in villages under ODF Plus.

Benefit₹12,000 incentive for a household toilet
Who can applyRural households without a toilet (BPL and identified APL categories)
Where to applythe panchayat secretary, the block office and online

Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal

Functional household tap connection providing safe drinking water to every rural home, managed with the village water and sanitation committee.

BenefitFree household tap connection
Who can applyAll rural households
Where to applythe panchayat secretary

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (free LPG connection)

Deposit-free LPG connection with first refill and stove for women from poor households.

BenefitFree LPG connection, first refill and stove
Who can applyAdult women from poor households without an existing LPG connection
Where to applyonline and the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC)

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Maternity benefit for pregnant and lactating mothers to compensate wage loss and support nutrition.

Benefit₹5,000 for the first child; ₹6,000 if the second child is a girl
Who can applyPregnant women and lactating mothers (excluding regular government employees)
Where to applythe Anganwadi centre and online

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (zero-balance account)

Basic savings bank account with no minimum balance, RuPay debit card with accident insurance and overdraft facility.

BenefitZero-balance account, RuPay card, ₹2 lakh accident cover
Who can applyAny Indian resident aged 10+ without a bank account
Where to applyyour bank branch

Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

Short-term crop loans at a subsidised interest rate for farmers, livestock and fisheries, with interest subvention for prompt repayment.

BenefitCrop loan at an effective 4% interest on timely repayment (up to ₹3 lakh)
Who can applyOwner and tenant farmers, sharecroppers, SHGs/JLGs of farmers, animal husbandry and fisheries farmers
Where to applyyour bank branch

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Cash assistance for institutional delivery in government hospitals, with free transport and care arranged through the ASHA.

Benefit₹1,400 to rural mothers for institutional delivery
Who can applyPregnant women delivering in a government or accredited facility
Where to applythe Anganwadi centre

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance)

Crop insurance against natural calamities, pests and diseases at a low farmer premium (2% Kharif, 1.5% Rabi).

BenefitCompensation for notified crop losses
Who can applyAll farmers growing notified crops in notified areas
Where to applyyour bank branch, the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) and online

PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima & PM Suraksha Bima Yojana

Low-cost life cover (₹2 lakh for ₹436 a year) and accident cover (₹2 lakh for ₹20 a year) through your bank account.

Benefit₹2 lakh life cover and ₹2 lakh accident cover
Who can applyBank account holders aged 18–50 (life) and 18–70 (accident)
Where to applyyour bank branch

DAY-NRLM / UP State Rural Livelihood Mission (women's self-help groups)

Organises rural women into self-help groups with revolving funds, bank credit and livelihood training; members can become BC Sakhi, Lakhpati Didi and more.

BenefitRevolving fund, community investment fund and low-interest bank loans
Who can applyWomen from rural households, especially poor and vulnerable families
Where to applythe block office

PM Vishwakarma Yojana

Recognition, skill training, toolkit incentive and collateral-free credit for traditional artisans and craftspeople in 18 trades.

Benefit₹15,000 toolkit incentive and loans up to ₹3 lakh at 5%
Who can applyArtisans aged 18+ working in the listed trades (one member per family)
Where to applythe nearest Common Service Centre (CSC)

Atal Pension Yojana

Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after age 60 for unorganised-sector workers who contribute through their bank account.

Benefit₹1,000–₹5,000 monthly pension after 60
Who can applyBank account holders aged 18–40 who are not income-tax payers
Where to applyyour bank branch

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar)

Subsidy for installing rooftop solar panels on homes, providing up to 300 units of free electricity a month.

BenefitSubsidy up to ₹78,000 for rooftop solar
Who can applyHouseholds with their own roof and a valid electricity connection
Where to applyonline

Browse all government schemes

Terrain and climate of Saran

Elevation
57 mCalculatedSRTM elevation model
Average annual rainfall
1,064 mm2001-2020CalculatedNASA POWER

The gram panchayats of Saran lie at an average of about 57 metres above sea level. CalculatedSRTM elevation model

Saran gets roughly 1,100 mm of rain in an average year. The land around it is almost flat: heights within 2 km vary by only about 12 m, typical of the alluvial plains.

Land cover around Saran

Land cover within about 2 km

  • Cropland 72%
  • Tree cover 16%
  • Built-up land 6.5%
  • Water and wetland 2.8%
  • Grass and scrub 1.8%
  • Bare or sparse land 0.5%

Averaged over its gram panchayats, the land around Saran's villages is about 72% cropland, 16% tree cover and 7% built-up (ESA WorldCover 2021). 2021CalculatedESA WorldCover 2021

From the blog

Stories from Saran District

Saran District: frequently asked questions

Which division is Saran District in?

Saran District is part of Saran Division.

What is the headquarters of Saran District?

The headquarters of Saran District is Chhapra.

What is the population of Saran District?

The 2011 Census counted 39,51,862 people in Saran District, living in 6,31,097 households. About 91% of them lived in villages.

How many gram panchayats are there in Saran District?

There are 323 gram panchayats in Saran District.

How many villages are there in Saran District?

Saran District has 1,729 revenue villages.

How many blocks are there in Saran District?

Saran District has 20 development blocks.

How many anchals are there in Saran District?

Saran District has 20 anchals.

How many assembly seats are there in Saran District?

Saran District has 10 assembly constituencies: Ekma, Manjhi, Baniapur, Taraiya, Marhaura, Chapra, Garkha, Amnour, Parsa and Sonpur.

Show 16 more questions

Who are the MLAs of Saran District?

Which Lok Sabha constituencies and MPs cover Saran District?

What is the literacy rate of Saran District?

The literacy rate of Saran District was 66.0% in the 2011 Census (men 77.0%, women 54.4%), against the state average of 61.8%.

What is the sex ratio of Saran District?

In the 2011 Census, Saran District had 954 females for every 1,000 males (state average 918).

What is the area of Saran District?

Saran District covers about 2,641 sq km, which works out to about 1,496 people per sq km on its 2011 population.

Which block of Saran District has the most gram panchayats?

Baniapur block has the most gram panchayats (25).

How many Mukhiyas in Saran District are women?

In the 2021 panchayat election, women won 175 of the 318 Mukhiya seats here (55%).

How many candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Saran District in 2021?

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 9.8 candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Saran District. No Mukhiya seat was won unopposed.

How do the panchayats of Saran perform in the Panchayat Advancement Index?

The gram panchayats of Saran average 48.5 out of 100 in PAI 2023-24, slightly behind the Bihar average of 51.9.

How many banks and post offices are there in Saran District?

We list 139 bank branches and 393 post offices in Saran District.

Which is the nearest airport to Saran District?

The nearest airport to the centre of Saran District is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (PAT), about 50 km away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Darbhanga Airport (DBR), about 121 km away.

How can I file a complaint with the Saran District administration?

File your complaint on Bihar Lok Shikayat Nivaran (lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in) or call helpline 1800 345 6284. It goes to the District Magistrate (DM) of Saran District and the department concerned, and you can track it online with the complaint number.

Which districts are near Saran District?

Neighbouring districts of Saran District: Siwan (37 km), Vaishali (38 km), Bhojpur (41 km), Gopalganj (68 km) and Patna (70 km).

What is the altitude of Saran District above sea level?

The gram panchayats of Saran District lie at an average of about 57 metres above sea level (SRTM terrain model).

How much rainfall does Saran District get, and how hot does it get?

On 2001-2020 averages, the gram panchayats of Saran District get about 1,060 mm of rain a year, 84% of it between June and September. The hottest days reach about 48°C, while the coldest nights fall to about 1°C. (NASA POWER satellite-model estimates)

How much farmland and tree cover is there around Saran District?

Around the gram panchayats of Saran District, the land is on average 72% cropland, 16% tree cover, 7% built-up land and 3% water, going by ESA WorldCover 2021 satellite maps.

Data sources and updates

We built this page from public, open government data. Each figure is as of its source’s date and may have changed since, so check with the office concerned before using it for anything official.

Data last refreshed: October 18, 2026

How we collect and label data · Disclaimer

Add or correct information (Mukhiya, secretary, contact)