BlockOpen government data

Shambhuganj Block

शंभुगंज · Bihar › Banka

Gram Panchayats
19
Villages
186
Bank Branches
11
Schools
232

Quick answer

Shambhuganj is a development block in Banka district, Bihar, with 19 gram panchayats and 186 villages (LGD code 1654). This directory lists 11 bank branches, 232 schools and 14 post offices here.

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

About Shambhuganj Block

The Shambhuganj (शंभुगंज) development block is in Banka district, Bihar, part of the Bhagalpur Division. The block sits between the village panchayats and the district: the Panchayat Samiti, headed by the Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti), plans works for the whole block, and the Block Development Officer (BDO) puts schemes into action. Its LGD code is 1654.

There are 19 gram panchayats and 186 villages in Shambhuganj block, which puts it at number 3 of 11 blocks in Banka by panchayat count. For land and revenue work, villagers go to Shambhuganj anchal.

From Banka headquarters, Shambhuganj is about 27 km away to the north-west (straight-line distance).

Villages in this block vote in the Amarpur assembly constituency.

Shambhuganj at a glance

NameShambhuganj / शंभुगंज
TypeBlock
LGD code1654
DistrictBanka
DivisionBhagalpur Division
StateBihar
Gram Panchayats19
Villages186
Coordinates25.0579° N, 86.7390° E
Schools232
Bank Branches11
Post Offices14

Map of Shambhuganj

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

Shambhuganj Block Gram Panchayat List

Shambhuganj Block has 19 gram panchayats. Open any of them to see its villages, Mukhiya, polling centres, nearby facilities and schemes.

Gram PanchayatName in HindiVillagesLGD code
Baidpurबैदपुर1394225
Barsabadवारसावाद694226
Bharatshilaभरतशिला594227
Birnaudhaबिरनौधा794228
Chhatraharछत्रहार2094229
Chutiya Belariचुटिया बेलारी1094230
Gulniगुलनी1294231
Jhakhraझखरा594232
Kamatpurकामतपुर394233
Karsopकरसोप694234
Kaswaकसबा894235
Kurmaकुर्मा1394236
Maldihमालडीह894237
Mirjapurमिर्जापुर1094238
Pakariyaपकरिया794239
Parariyaपड़रिया994241
Parmanandpurपरमानंदपुर894242
Poukariपौकरी2694240
Ramchuaरामचुआ1094243

Population of Shambhuganj

We’re still adding village-level census tables for this area. Meanwhile, here are the Census 2011 rural figures for Banka district, which Shambhuganj is part of:

Census 2011, rural areas
Rural population19,63,450
Rural households3,67,997
Rural literacy rate57.6%
Rural sex ratio908
Rural SC population share12.2%
Rural work participation38.3%

Health and household indicators (NFHS-5)

These NFHS-5 (2019–21) health and household figures are for Banka district, where Shambhuganj is. They’re district averages, not figures for the village itself:

IndicatorBanka
Women who are literate55.7%
Women with 10+ years of schooling22.6%
Institutional births79.8%
Children 12–23 months fully vaccinated88.1%
Children under 5 who are stunted46.7%
Women (15–49) who are anaemic65.9%
Households using clean cooking fuel32.3%
Households with improved sanitation38.2%
Households with electricity96.2%
Households with health insurance13.6%
Households with improved drinking water96.3%

Work and livelihood

Most families in and around Shambhuganj mix small-scale farming with livestock, local trade and seasonal wage work. Since July 2026, VB-G RAM G (which replaced MGNREGA) guarantees each household at least 125 days of work a year on village works such as ponds, roads and plantations. The gram panchayat issues the job cards, and wages go straight into bank or post office accounts.

Shambhuganj Block office: BDO and contacts

The Block Development Officer (BDO) heads the Shambhuganj block office, with assistant officers for agriculture, cooperatives, panchayats, social welfare and statistics. The elected Panchayat Samiti, made up of directly elected members and the Mukhiyas of the block’s gram panchayats, chooses the Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti) and approves the block development plan.

Go to the Shambhuganj block office for PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) houses, Swachh Bharat toilets, pension verification, job guarantee problems (VB-G RAM G, earlier MGNREGA) and complaints about a gram panchayat. You can also file a complaint on Bihar Lok Shikayat Nivaran (lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in) or call helpline 1800 345 6284.

Shambhuganj Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti) and MLAs

No.Assembly ConstituencyMLA (party)Lok Sabha Constituency
159AmarpurJayant Raj (Janata Dal (United))Banka

Panchayat elections

Mukhiya seats won by women
58%2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar
Candidates per Mukhiya seat
7.82021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

Women won 11 of the 19 Mukhiya seats in Shambhuganj in the 2021 panchayat election (58%), 2 of them on seats not reserved for women. 2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 7.8 candidates stood for each Mukhiya's seat in Shambhuganj, against 8.2 across Bihar.

How Shambhuganj 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
53.3/1002023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Across its panchayats, Shambhuganj averages 53.3 out of 100 in the Panchayat Advancement Index 2023-24, 5th of 11 in Banka, about the same as the Bihar average of 51.9. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

None of the 19 scored panchayats of Shambhuganj reached the Front Runner band (75+) in 2023-24.

Scores on the nine development themes

Poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods62.5
Healthy panchayat58.1
Child-friendly panchayat48.0
Water-sufficient panchayat49.3
Clean and green panchayat54.8
Self-sufficient infrastructure44.2
Socially just and secured67.5
Good governance57.0
Women-friendly panchayat48.7

Shambhuganj does best on “Socially just and secured” (67.5) and worst on “Self-sufficient infrastructure” (44.2). That 23-point gap shows where the next Gram Panchayat Development Plan could focus. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Schools in and near Shambhuganj

Shambhuganj Block has 232 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 Shambhuganj

On record in Shambhuganj Block: 11 Bank Branches and 14 Post Offices.

Banks with the most branches here: UCO Bank, State Bank of India, Canara Bank.

UCO Bank4
State Bank of India2
Canara Bank1
Indian Bank1
Axis Bank1
Bank of Baroda1
Punjab National Bank1

Facilities at a glance

FacilityCount
🏫 Schools232View list
🏦 Bank Branches11View list
📮 Post Offices14View list

How to reach Shambhuganj

The nearest railway station to the centre of Shambhuganj is Sultanganj, about 20 km away.

The nearest airport is Darbhanga Airport, about 151 km away.

PlaceTypeDistanceDirection
Banka headquartersDistrict27 kmnorth-west
Sultanganj (SGG)Railway Station20 kmnorth
Maheshi (MVV)Railway Station21 kmnorth
Abjuganj (AJUG)Railway Station21 kmnorth
Darbhanga AirportAirport151 kmnorth-west
Kazi Nazrul Islam AirportAirport168 kmsouth

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

How far Shambhuganj 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
5.9 kmCalculatedRBI bank branch list
Nearest railway station
20 kmCalculatedDataMeet railways

A typical gram panchayat in Shambhuganj is 20 km from the nearest railway station. CalculatedDataMeet railways

On average, a gram panchayat in Shambhuganj is 5.9 km from the nearest bank branch (closer than the Bihar average of 7.5 km). Gram panchayats in Shambhuganj are, on average, 2.6 km from the nearest post office.

Places near Shambhuganj

The Blocks closest to Shambhuganj, by straight-line distance between their approximate centres:

BlockDistrictDistanceDirection
JagdishpurBhagalpur10.0 kmnorth-east
TarapurMunger10 kmnorth-west
FullidumarBanka11 kmsouth-east
SangrampurMunger14 kmsouth-west
AsarganjMunger15 kmnorth-west
ShahkundBhagalpur15 kmnorth-east

Other Blocks in Banka

Citizen services: how to get things done

MGNREGA (now VB-G RAM G) job card and work

  1. Apply for a job card at your gram panchayat with photos and Aadhaar of the adult members of the household. An old MGNREGA job card with e-KYC done stays valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card is issued.
  2. Ask for work in writing and keep the receipt. You now have a right to at least 125 days a year, and if work doesn’t come in the set time, you’re entitled to an unemployment allowance. Check attendance and wage payments on nrega.nic.in with your job card number.

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 Shambhuganj Block Development Officer (BDO) verifies the application. Once it’s sanctioned, the pension goes straight into your bank account.

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, Shambhuganj block officials check the application and the supply inspector or District Supply Officer approves it.

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.

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 Shambhuganj block. 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.

Special programmes

Banka is an Aspirational District under NITI Aayog’s programme, so schemes in Shambhuganj may get extra monitoring and convergence funding. 2018Wider-area figure: BankaNITI Aayog

Government schemes for residents of Shambhuganj

Households in Shambhuganj 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

Browse all government schemes

Terrain and climate of Shambhuganj

Elevation
56 mCalculatedSRTM elevation model
Average annual rainfall
1,122 mm2001-2020CalculatedNASA POWER

The gram panchayats of Shambhuganj lie at an average of about 56 metres above sea level. CalculatedSRTM elevation model

Shambhuganj gets roughly 1,100 mm of rain in an average year. The surrounding land is gently undulating, with heights within 2 km varying by about 13 m.

Land cover around Shambhuganj

Land cover within about 2 km

  • Cropland 89%
  • Tree cover 7.0%
  • Built-up land 2.9%
  • Water and wetland 0.1%
  • Grass and scrub 0.9%

Averaged over its gram panchayats, the land around Shambhuganj's villages is about 89% cropland, 7% tree cover and 3% built-up (ESA WorldCover 2021). 2021CalculatedESA WorldCover 2021

From the blog

Stories from Shambhuganj Block

Shambhuganj Block: frequently asked questions

Which district is Shambhuganj Block in?

Shambhuganj Block is in Banka district (Bhagalpur Division).

How many gram panchayats are there in Shambhuganj Block?

There are 19 gram panchayats in Shambhuganj Block.

How many villages are there in Shambhuganj Block?

Shambhuganj Block has 186 revenue villages.

Where is the Shambhuganj block office and what does it do?

The Shambhuganj block office (Khand Vikas Karyalaya) is at the block headquarters in Banka district. It deals with VB-G RAM G (earlier MGNREGA), PM Awas Yojana (Gramin), pension verification, Swachh Bharat Mission and most gram panchayat matters, so it’s where you go when the panchayat can’t sort something out.

Which assembly constituency does Shambhuganj come under?

Shambhuganj comes under the Amarpur Vidhan Sabha (assembly) constituency.

Who is the MLA of Shambhuganj?

The MLA for Amarpur is Jayant Raj (Janata Dal (United)), elected in the 2025 assembly election. They got 1,03,944 votes (53.5%) and won by 33,221 votes.

Which Lok Sabha constituency is Shambhuganj in?

Shambhuganj is in the Banka Lok Sabha constituency.

Who is the MP of Shambhuganj?

The Member of Parliament for Banka is Giridhari Yadav (Janata Dal (United)), elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. They got 5,06,678 votes (50.0%) and won by 1,03,844 votes.

Show 15 more questions

Which gram panchayat in Shambhuganj Block has the most villages?

Poukari has the most villages (26).

How many Mukhiyas in Shambhuganj Block are women?

In the 2021 panchayat election, women won 11 of the 19 Mukhiya seats here (58%).

How many candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Shambhuganj Block in 2021?

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 7.8 candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Shambhuganj Block. No Mukhiya seat was won unopposed.

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

The gram panchayats of Shambhuganj average 53.3 out of 100 in PAI 2023-24, about the same as the Bihar average of 51.9.

How many banks and post offices are there in Shambhuganj Block?

We list 11 bank branches and 14 post offices in Shambhuganj Block.

How far is Shambhuganj Block from Banka district headquarters?

The centre of Shambhuganj Block is about 27 km north-west of Banka district headquarters as the crow flies; by road it will be further.

Which is the nearest railway station to Shambhuganj Block?

The nearest railway station to the centre of Shambhuganj Block is Sultanganj (SGG), about 20 km away as the crow flies. Other stations close by: Maheshi (MVV), 21 km; Abjuganj (AJUG), 21 km.

Which is the nearest airport to Shambhuganj Block?

The nearest airport to the centre of Shambhuganj Block is Darbhanga Airport (DBR), about 151 km away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (RDP), about 168 km away.

Which blocks are near Shambhuganj Block?

Neighbouring blocks of Shambhuganj Block: Jagdishpur (10.0 km), Tarapur (10 km), Fullidumar (11 km), Sangrampur (14 km) and Asarganj (15 km).

How can I check MGNREGA (now VB-G RAM G) job cards or the PM Awas (Gramin) list for Shambhuganj Block?

On nrega.nic.in, pick the state, district Banka and block Shambhuganj, then your gram panchayat, to see job cards and wage payments. The PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) list works the same way on pmayg.dord.gov.in. Both schemes are run from the Shambhuganj block office by the Block Development Officer (BDO). MGNREGA became VB-G RAM G on 1 July 2026.

How do I apply for a pension in Shambhuganj Block?

For old-age, widow or disability pension, apply online on RTPS Bihar (social security pension) (serviceonline.bihar.gov.in) or through a Common Service Centre (CSC) or RTPS counter. The Block Development Officer (BDO) verifies rural applications from Shambhuganj block, and once approved the pension goes straight into your bank account, so make sure the account is linked to Aadhaar.

How can I file a complaint with the Shambhuganj Block administration?

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

What is the altitude of Shambhuganj Block above sea level?

The gram panchayats of Shambhuganj Block lie at an average of about 56 metres above sea level (SRTM terrain model).

How much rainfall does Shambhuganj Block get, and how hot does it get?

On 2001-2020 averages, the gram panchayats of Shambhuganj Block get about 1,120 mm of rain a year, 79% of it between June and September. The hottest days reach about 46°C, while the coldest nights fall to about 1°C. (NASA POWER satellite-model estimates)

How much farmland and tree cover is there around Shambhuganj Block?

Around the gram panchayats of Shambhuganj Block, the land is on average 89% cropland, 7% tree cover and 3% built-up land, 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)