BlockOpen government data

Sonbarsa Block

सोनबरसा · Bihar › Sitamarhi

Gram Panchayats
20
Villages
64
Bank Branches
1
Schools
164

Quick answer

Sonbarsa is a development block in Sitamarhi district, Bihar, with 20 gram panchayats and 64 villages (LGD code 2104). This directory lists 1 bank branch, 164 schools and 21 post offices here.

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

About Sonbarsa Block

Sonbarsa (सोनबरसा) is a development block in Sitamarhi district, Bihar, part of the Tirhut Division. It’s the middle tier of Panchayati Raj: the elected Panchayat Samiti is headed by the Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti), and the Block Development Officer (BDO) runs the block office. LGD code: 2104.

Sonbarsa block has 20 gram panchayats covering 64 revenue villages. By number of panchayats it ranks 5 of the 17 blocks in Sitamarhi district. Its villages come under Sonbarsa anchal.

From Sitamarhi headquarters, Sonbarsa is about 22 km away to the north-east (straight-line distance).

In Vidhan Sabha elections, the block is part of Bathnaha and Parihar.

Sonbarsa at a glance

NameSonbarsa / सोनबरसा
TypeBlock
LGD code2104
DistrictSitamarhi
DivisionTirhut Division
StateBihar
Gram Panchayats20
Villages64
Coordinates26.7783° N, 85.5706° E
Schools164
Bank Branches1
Post Offices21

Map of Sonbarsa

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

Sonbarsa Block Gram Panchayat List

Sonbarsa Block has 20 gram panchayats. Open any of them to see its villages, Mukhiya, polling centres, nearby facilities and schemes.

Gram PanchayatName in HindiVillagesLGD code
Bagahaबगहा7101158
Bhaluahaभलुआहा5101159
Bhutahiभुतही1101160
Bishunpur Adharबिशुनपुर आधार4101161
Bishunpur Gonahiबिशुनपुर गोनाही4101162
Dostiyaदोस्तिया3101163
Ghurghura Hanumannagarघुरघुरा हनुमाननगर2101164
Indarwaइंदरवा3101165
Jainagarजैनगर4101166
Kachaurकचौर3101167
Kanhauliकान्हौली3101168
Khap Khoprahaखाप खोप्राहा7101169
Madhesaraमधेसरा3101170
Madhiyaमढ़िया3101171
Marpaमरपा4101172
Pipra Parsainपीपरा परसाईं1101173
Purandaha Rajawara Pashchimपुरन्दाहा राजवारा पश्चिम3101174
Purandaha Rajawara Purviपुरन्दाहा राजवारा पूर्वी2101175
Singhwahiniसिंघवाहिनी1101176
Sonbarsaसोनबरसा1101177

Population of Sonbarsa

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

Census 2011, rural areas
Rural population32,33,076
Rural households6,99,274
Rural literacy rate50.8%
Rural sex ratio900
Rural SC population share12.0%
Rural work participation32.7%

Health and household indicators (NFHS-5)

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

IndicatorSitamarhi
Women who are literate51.7%
Women with 10+ years of schooling19.2%
Institutional births64.4%
Children 12–23 months fully vaccinated66.6%
Children under 5 who are stunted54.2%
Women (15–49) who are anaemic61.7%
Households using clean cooking fuel40.5%
Households with improved sanitation50.7%
Households with electricity93.1%
Households with health insurance20.7%
Households with improved drinking water99.7%

Work and livelihood

As in most of rural Bihar, people around Sonbarsa live mainly off farming (wheat, maize and pulses such as lentil in the Rabi season, paddy or maize in the Kharif season, depending on the area), along with dairy and job guarantee wage work. Since July 2026 that’s VB-G RAM G, which replaced MGNREGA: a household with a job card from the gram panchayat can get at least 125 days of paid work a year. Farmers can sign up for PM-KISAN and a Kisan Credit Card through the block agriculture office or a Common Service Centre.

Sonbarsa Block office: BDO and contacts

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

Sonbarsa Pramukh (Panchayat Samiti) and MLAs

Panchayat elections

Mukhiya seats won by women
50%2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar
Candidates per Mukhiya seat
8.52021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

Women won 10 of the 20 Mukhiya seats in Sonbarsa in the 2021 panchayat election (50%), 1 of them on seats not reserved for women. 2021CalculatedState Election Commission, Bihar

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 8.5 candidates stood for each Mukhiya's seat in Sonbarsa, against 8.2 across Bihar.

How Sonbarsa 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
41.6/1002023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Across its panchayats, Sonbarsa averages 41.6 out of 100 in the Panchayat Advancement Index 2023-24, 17th of 17 in Sitamarhi, well behind the Bihar average of 51.9. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

None of the 20 scored panchayats of Sonbarsa reached the Front Runner band (75+) in 2023-24.

Scores on the nine development themes

Poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods54.8
Healthy panchayat51.1
Child-friendly panchayat35.9
Water-sufficient panchayat39.8
Clean and green panchayat34.3
Self-sufficient infrastructure34.3
Socially just and secured68.2
Good governance46.8
Women-friendly panchayat34.8

Sonbarsa does best on “Socially just and secured” (68.2) and worst on “Self-sufficient infrastructure” (34.3). That 34-point gap shows where the next Gram Panchayat Development Plan could focus. 2023-24CalculatedPanchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0)

Schools in and near Sonbarsa

Sonbarsa Block has 164 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 Sonbarsa

On record in Sonbarsa Block: 1 Bank Branches and 21 Post Offices.

Banks with the most branches here: Indian Bank.

Indian Bank1

Facilities at a glance

FacilityCount
🏫 Schools164View list
🏦 Bank Branches1View list
📮 Post Offices21View list

How to reach Sonbarsa

The nearest railway station to the centre of Sonbarsa is Tapaswinarayan Nagar Halt, about 20 km away.

The nearest airport is Darbhanga Airport, about 74 km away.

PlaceTypeDistanceDirection
Sitamarhi headquartersDistrict22 kmnorth-east
Tapaswinarayan Nagar Halt (TNNH)Railway Station20 kmsouth-west
Riga (RIGA)Railway Station21 kmsouth-west
Mohini Mandal(H (MMDL)Railway Station21 kmsouth-west
Darbhanga AirportAirport74 kmsouth-east
Jay Prakash Narayan AirportAirport141 kmsouth

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

How far Sonbarsa 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
4.6 kmCalculatedRBI bank branch list
Nearest railway station
20 kmCalculatedDataMeet railways

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

On average, a gram panchayat in Sonbarsa is 4.6 km from the nearest bank branch (closer than the Bihar average of 7.5 km). Gram panchayats in Sonbarsa are, on average, 3.9 km from the nearest post office.

Places near Sonbarsa

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

BlockDistrictDistanceDirection
PariharSitamarhi12 kmsouth-east
BathanahaSitamarhi13 kmsouth
MajorganjSitamarhi16 kmwest
RigaSitamarhi23 kmsouth-west
SursandSitamarhi23 kmsouth-east
SuppiSitamarhi24 kmsouth-west

Other Blocks in Sitamarhi

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 Sonbarsa 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, Sonbarsa 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 Sonbarsa 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

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

Government schemes for residents of Sonbarsa

These schemes, from the central government and the Government of Bihar, matter most to households in Sonbarsa. Each card says who can apply, what you get and where to apply locally. Open a scheme for the full rules, the documents you need and the steps.

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 Sonbarsa

Elevation
76 mCalculatedSRTM elevation model
Average annual rainfall
1,182 mm2001-2020CalculatedNASA POWER

The gram panchayats of Sonbarsa lie at an average of about 76 metres above sea level. CalculatedSRTM elevation model

Sonbarsa gets roughly 1,200 mm of rain in an average year. The land around it is almost flat: heights within 2 km vary by only about 10 m, typical of the alluvial plains.

Land cover around Sonbarsa

Land cover within about 2 km

  • Cropland 73%
  • Tree cover 22%
  • Built-up land 4.4%
  • Water and wetland 0.1%
  • Grass and scrub 0.4%

Averaged over its gram panchayats, the land around Sonbarsa's villages is about 73% cropland, 22% tree cover and 4% built-up (ESA WorldCover 2021). 2021CalculatedESA WorldCover 2021

From the blog

Stories from Sonbarsa Block

Sonbarsa Block: frequently asked questions

Which district is Sonbarsa Block in?

Sonbarsa Block is in Sitamarhi district (Tirhut Division).

How many gram panchayats are there in Sonbarsa Block?

There are 20 gram panchayats in Sonbarsa Block.

How many villages are there in Sonbarsa Block?

Sonbarsa Block has 64 revenue villages.

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

The Sonbarsa block office (Khand Vikas Karyalaya) is at the block headquarters in Sitamarhi 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 constituencies cover Sonbarsa Block?

Sonbarsa Block is spread over 2 assembly constituencies: Bathnaha and Parihar.

Who are the MLAs of Sonbarsa Block?

Which Lok Sabha constituency is Sonbarsa in?

Sonbarsa is in the Sitamarhi Lok Sabha constituency.

Who is the MP of Sonbarsa?

The Member of Parliament for Sitamarhi is Devesh Chandra Thakur (Janata Dal (United)), elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. They got 5,15,719 votes (47.1%) and won by 51,356 votes.

Show 15 more questions

Which gram panchayat in Sonbarsa Block has the most villages?

Bagaha has the most villages (7).

How many Mukhiyas in Sonbarsa Block are women?

In the 2021 panchayat election, women won 10 of the 20 Mukhiya seats here (50%).

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

In the 2021 panchayat election, an average of 8.5 candidates contested each Mukhiya seat in Sonbarsa Block. No Mukhiya seat was won unopposed.

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

The gram panchayats of Sonbarsa average 41.6 out of 100 in PAI 2023-24, well behind the Bihar average of 51.9.

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

We list 1 bank branch and 21 post offices in Sonbarsa Block.

How far is Sonbarsa Block from Sitamarhi district headquarters?

The centre of Sonbarsa Block is about 22 km north-east of Sitamarhi district headquarters as the crow flies; by road it will be further.

Which is the nearest railway station to Sonbarsa Block?

The nearest railway station to the centre of Sonbarsa Block is Tapaswinarayan Nagar Halt (TNNH), about 20 km away as the crow flies. Other stations close by: Riga (RIGA), 21 km; Mohini Mandal(H (MMDL), 21 km.

Which is the nearest airport to Sonbarsa Block?

The nearest airport to the centre of Sonbarsa Block is Darbhanga Airport (DBR), about 74 km away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (PAT), about 141 km away.

Which blocks are near Sonbarsa Block?

Neighbouring blocks of Sonbarsa Block: Parihar (12 km), Bathanaha (13 km), Majorganj (16 km), Riga (23 km) and Sursand (23 km).

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

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

What is the altitude of Sonbarsa Block above sea level?

The gram panchayats of Sonbarsa Block lie at an average of about 76 metres above sea level (SRTM terrain model).

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

On 2001-2020 averages, the gram panchayats of Sonbarsa Block get about 1,180 mm of rain a year, 81% of it between June and September. The hottest days reach about 44°C, while the coldest nights fall to about 2°C. (NASA POWER satellite-model estimates)

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

Around the gram panchayats of Sonbarsa Block, the land is on average 73% cropland, 22% tree cover and 4% 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)