BlockOpen government data

Sonepur Block

सोनपुर · Bihar › Saran

Gram Panchayats
23
Villages
98
Bank Branches
14
Schools
182

Quick answer

Sonepur is a development block in Saran district, Bihar, with 23 gram panchayats and 98 villages (LGD code 2077). This directory lists 14 bank branches, 182 schools and 25 post offices here.

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

About Sonepur Block

The Sonepur (सोनपुर) development block is in Saran district, Bihar, part of the Saran 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 2077.

There are 23 gram panchayats and 98 villages in Sonepur block, which puts it at number 4 of 20 blocks in Saran by panchayat count. For land and revenue work, villagers go to Sonepur anchal.

From Saran headquarters, Sonepur is about 42 km away to the south-east (straight-line distance).

Villages in this block vote in the Sonpur assembly constituency.

Sonepur at a glance

NameSonepur / सोनपुर
TypeBlock
LGD code2077
DistrictSaran
DivisionSaran Division
StateBihar
Gram Panchayats23
Villages98
Coordinates25.7265° N, 85.1139° E
Schools182
Bank Branches14
Post Offices25

Map of Sonepur

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

Sonepur Block Gram Panchayat List

Sonepur Block has 23 gram panchayats. Open any of them to see its villages, Mukhiya, polling centres, nearby facilities and schemes.

Gram PanchayatName in HindiVillagesLGD code
Bharpuraभरपुरा6100791
Chatur Purचतुर पुर4100792
Dudhailaदूधैला5100793
Dumari Bujurgदुमारी बुजुर्ग2100794
Gangajalगंगाजल5100795
Gopal Purगोपाल पुर2100796
Govind Chakगोबिन्दचक4100797
Hasilpurहसिलपुर11100798
Jahagir Purजहगीर पुर3100799
Kalyan Purकल्यान पुर15100800
Kasamarकसमर7100801
Kharikaखरिका2100802
Nagarmiraनजरमीरा3100803
Nayagaonनयागांव5100804
Permanand Purपरमानन्द पुर3100805
Rasulpurरसुलपुर12100806
Sabalpur Middleसबलपुर मिडल0100807
Sabalpur Pachamiसबलपुर पछमी2100808
Sabalpur Purbiसबलपुर पुरबी0100809
Sabalpur Utriसबलपुर उत्तरी1100810
Sahapur Diaraशाहपुर दियारा1100811
Shaidpurशैदपुर1100812
Sikarpurसिकारपुर4100813

Population of Sonepur

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

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)

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

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

Most families in and around Sonepur 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.

Sonepur Block office: BDO and contacts

The Block Development Officer (BDO) heads the Sonepur 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 Sonepur 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.

Sonepur Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti) and MLAs

No.Assembly ConstituencyMLA (party)Lok Sabha Constituency
122SonpurVinay Kumar Singh (Bharatiya Janata Party)Saran

Panchayat elections

Mukhiya seats won by women
57%2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar
Candidates per Mukhiya seat
8.62021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

Women won 13 of the 23 Mukhiya seats in Sonepur in the 2021 panchayat election (57%), 3 of them on seats not reserved for women. 2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 8.6 candidates stood for each Mukhiya's seat in Sonepur, against 8.2 across Bihar.

How Sonepur 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
45.0/1002023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Across its panchayats, Sonepur averages 45.0 out of 100 in the Panchayat Advancement Index 2023-24, 15th of 20 in Saran, slightly behind the Bihar average of 51.9. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

None of the 23 scored panchayats of Sonepur reached the Front Runner band (75+) in 2023-24.

Scores on the nine development themes

Poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods49.6
Healthy panchayat52.2
Child-friendly panchayat41.4
Water-sufficient panchayat41.1
Clean and green panchayat50.2
Self-sufficient infrastructure31.4
Socially just and secured66.9
Good governance48.7
Women-friendly panchayat40.7

Sonepur does best on “Socially just and secured” (66.9) and worst on “Self-sufficient infrastructure” (31.4). That 36-point gap shows where the next Gram Panchayat Development Plan could focus. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Schools in and near Sonepur

Sonepur Block has 182 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 Sonepur

On record in Sonepur Block: 14 Bank Branches and 25 Post Offices.

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

State Bank of India4
Central Bank of India3
Canara Bank2
Indian Overseas Bank1
Bank of Baroda1
HDFC Bank1
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank1
Bank of Maharashtra1

Facilities at a glance

FacilityCount
🏫 Schools182View list
🏦 Bank Branches14View list
📮 Post Offices25View list
🚉 Railway Stations3View list

How to reach Sonepur

The nearest railway station to the centre of Sonepur is Parmanandpur, about 2.6 km away.

The nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport, about 15 km away.

PlaceTypeDistanceDirection
Saran headquartersDistrict42 kmsouth-east
Parmanandpur (PMU)Railway Station2.6 kmnorth-east
Nayagaon (NYO)Railway Station4.3 kmnorth
Sonpur Jn (SEE)Railway Station6.3 kmsouth-east
Jay Prakash Narayan AirportAirport15 kmsouth
Darbhanga AirportAirport96 kmnorth-east

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

How far Sonepur 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
2.8 kmCalculatedRBI bank branch list
Nearest railway station
3.1 kmCalculatedDataMeet railways

On average, a gram panchayat in Sonepur is 2.8 km from the nearest bank branch (less than half of the Bihar average of 7.5 km). CalculatedRBI bank branch list

A typical gram panchayat in Sonepur is 3.1 km from the nearest railway station. Gram panchayats in Sonepur are, on average, 2.9 km from the nearest post office.

Places near Sonepur

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

BlockDistrictDistanceDirection
DighwaraSaran12 kmwest
DariapurSaran14 kmnorth-west
HajipurVaishali14 kmeast
DinapurPatna14 kmsouth-west
LalganjVaishali16 kmnorth-east
ManerPatna21 kmsouth-west

Other Blocks in Saran

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 Sonepur 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, Sonepur 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 Sonepur 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.

Government schemes for residents of Sonepur

Households in Sonepur 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 Sonepur

Elevation
52 mCalculatedSRTM elevation model
Average annual rainfall
1,042 mm2001-2020CalculatedNASA POWER

The gram panchayats of Sonepur lie at an average of about 52 metres above sea level. CalculatedSRTM elevation model

Sonepur gets roughly 1,000 mm of rain in an average year. The surrounding land is gently undulating, with heights within 2 km varying by about 34 m.

Land cover around Sonepur

Land cover within about 2 km

  • Cropland 65%
  • Tree cover 13%
  • Built-up land 8.1%
  • Water and wetland 9.1%
  • Grass and scrub 3.8%
  • Bare or sparse land 1.2%

Averaged over its gram panchayats, the land around Sonepur's villages is about 65% cropland, 13% tree cover and 8% built-up (ESA WorldCover 2021). 2021CalculatedESA WorldCover 2021

From the blog

Stories from Sonepur Block

Sonepur Block: frequently asked questions

Which district is Sonepur Block in?

Sonepur Block is in Saran district (Saran Division).

How many gram panchayats are there in Sonepur Block?

There are 23 gram panchayats in Sonepur Block.

How many villages are there in Sonepur Block?

Sonepur Block has 98 revenue villages.

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

The Sonepur block office (Khand Vikas Karyalaya) is at the block headquarters in Saran 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 Sonepur come under?

Sonepur comes under the Sonpur Vidhan Sabha (assembly) constituency.

Who is the MLA of Sonepur?

The MLA for Sonpur is Vinay Kumar Singh (Bharatiya Janata Party), elected in the 2025 assembly election. They got 90,842 votes (45.6%) and won by 4,767 votes.

Which Lok Sabha constituency is Sonepur in?

Sonepur is in the Saran Lok Sabha constituency.

Who is the MP of Sonepur?

The Member of Parliament for Saran is Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Bharatiya Janata Party), elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. They got 4,71,752 votes (46.2%) and won by 13,661 votes.

Show 15 more questions

Which gram panchayat in Sonepur Block has the most villages?

Kalyan Pur has the most villages (15).

How many Mukhiyas in Sonepur Block are women?

In the 2021 panchayat election, women won 13 of the 23 Mukhiya seats here (57%).

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

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 8.6 candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Sonepur Block. No Mukhiya seat was won unopposed.

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

The gram panchayats of Sonepur average 45.0 out of 100 in PAI 2023-24, slightly behind the Bihar average of 51.9.

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

We list 14 bank branches and 25 post offices in Sonepur Block.

How far is Sonepur Block from Saran district headquarters?

The centre of Sonepur Block is about 42 km south-east of Saran district headquarters as the crow flies; by road it will be further.

Which is the nearest railway station to Sonepur Block?

The nearest railway station to the centre of Sonepur Block is Parmanandpur (PMU), about 2.6 km away as the crow flies. Other stations close by: Nayagaon (NYO), 4.3 km; Sonpur Jn (SEE), 6.3 km.

Which is the nearest airport to Sonepur Block?

The nearest airport to the centre of Sonepur Block is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (PAT), about 15 km away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Darbhanga Airport (DBR), about 96 km away.

Which blocks are near Sonepur Block?

Neighbouring blocks of Sonepur Block: Dighwara (12 km), Dariapur (14 km), Hajipur (14 km), Dinapur (14 km) and Lalganj (16 km).

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

On nrega.nic.in, pick the state, district Saran and block Sonepur, 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 Sonepur 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 Sonepur 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 Sonepur 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 Sonepur 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 Sonepur Block and the department concerned, and you can track it online with the complaint number.

What is the altitude of Sonepur Block above sea level?

The gram panchayats of Sonepur Block lie at an average of about 52 metres above sea level (SRTM terrain model).

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

On 2001-2020 averages, the gram panchayats of Sonepur Block get about 1,040 mm of rain a year, 85% 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 Sonepur Block?

Around the gram panchayats of Sonepur Block, the land is on average 65% cropland, 13% tree cover, 8% built-up land and 9% 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)