Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat, city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada (North), Navsari (South) districts and east Tapi district To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat. It had a population of 6,081,322 of which 79.68% were urban as of 2011. On 2 October 2007 Surat district was split into two by the creation of a new Tapi district, under the Surat District Re-organisation Act 2007.

Surat district
Clockwise from top-left: University Road, Dutch and Armenian Cemetery, Kedareshwar Temple, Bardoli, Dumas Beach and Hazira Port, Apartments in Vesu
Map
Interactive Map Outlining Surat District
Location of district in Gujarat
Location of district in Gujarat
Coordinates: 20°55′N 73°3′E / 20.917°N 73.050°E / 20.917; 73.050
Country India
StateGujarat
HeadquartersSurat
Area
 • Total
4,418 km2 (1,706 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[1][2]
 • Total
9,758,263
 • Rank10 of 640 in India
2 of 33 in Gujarat
 • Density2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialGujarati, Hindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationGJ 05, GJ 19 & GJ 28
Websitesurat.gujarat.gov.in

During the Quit India Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, A large number of 3,000 Koli cultivators from Matwad, Karadi, Machhad and Kothmadi in Surat District fought against British soldiers at Matwad with lathis and dharias on 21 August 1942. In this fight, four persons including one policeman died. The kolis also snatched away four police muskets and two bayonets. Kolis smashed up the Jalalpore Railway Station, removed the Rails and burnt down the post office. After this, situation in the neighbouring villages of Borsad, Anand and Thasra taluqas became so aggravated that British troops was marched through the villages between 22 and 24 August 1942.[3][4]

As of 2011 it is the 12th most populous district of India (out of 640), and the second most populous district of Gujarat (out of 33) after Ahmadabad.[1][2]

Geography

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Map of Surat district, Bombay Presidency, British India 1877

Surat District's total area is 4,418 km 2, and the density of Surat District was 1,376 per km 2 at the 2011 Census. The region has the highest population density in the State, followed by Ahmedabad region. There are 10 sub-districts in Surat district. These include Surat city, Mandvi, Bardoli, Palsana, Mahuva, Kamrej, Mangrol, Choryasi, Olpad and Umarpada.

Climate

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Surat has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw), moderated strongly by the Sea to the Gulf of Cambay. The summer begins in early March and lasts until June. April and May are the hottest months, the average maximum temperature being 37 °C (99 °F). Monsoon begins in late June, and the city receives about 1,200 millimetres (47 in) of rain by the end of September, with the average maximum being 32 °C (90 °F) during those months. October and November see the retreat of the monsoon and a return of high temperatures until late November. Winter starts in December and ends in late February, with average mean temperatures of around 23 °C (73 °F), and negligible rain.

Since the 20th century, Surat has experienced 14 floods.[5] In 1968, most parts of the city were flooded and in 1994 a flood caused a country-wide plague outbreak, Surat being the epicenter. In 1998, 30 per cent of Surat had gone under water due to flooding in Tapti river following release of water from Ukai dam located 90 km from Surat and in Aug, 2006 more than 95 per cent of the city was under Tapti river waters, killing more than 120 people, stranding tens of thousands in their homes without food or electricity and closing businesses and schools for weeks.[6][5]

Climate data for Surat, Gujarat (1932–1980)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source 1: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[7]
Source 2: World Climate Guide (sunshine only)[8]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901462,643—    
1911494,771+0.67%
1921496,671+0.04%
1931546,018+0.95%
1941658,719+1.89%
1951781,625+1.73%
1961984,689+2.34%
19711,329,422+3.05%
19811,965,240+3.99%
19912,770,921+3.50%
20014,275,540+4.43%
20239,758,263+3.82%
source:[9]

According to the 2011 census Surat district has a population of 6,081,322,[1] roughly equal to the nation of El Salvador[10] or the US state of Missouri.[11] This gives it a ranking of 12th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 1,376 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,560/sq mi) .[1] Its population growth rate was 42.24% over the decade 2001–2011 and 54.30% over the decade 1991–2001.[12] Surat has a sex ratio of 788 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 86.5%. 79.74% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 2.60% and 14.09% of the population respectively.[1]

Religion

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Religions in Surat district (2011)[13]
Hinduism
86.50%
Islam
10.87%
Jainism
1.86%
Other or not stated
0.77%
Distribution of religions

Hinduism is the main religion. Islam and Jainism are also present.[13]

Language

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Languages of Surat district (2011)[14]

  Gujarati (60.06%)
  Hindi (19.62%)
  Marathi (8.03%)
  Odia (2.60%)
  Urdu (2.47%)
  Marwari (1.44%)
  Bhojpuri (1.30%)
  Chodri (1.01%)
  Others (3.47%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 60.06% of the population spoke Gujarati, 19.62% Hindi, 8.03% Marathi, 2.60% Odia, 2.47% Urdu, 1.44% Marwari, 1.30% Bhojpuri and 1.01% Chodri as their first language.[14]

Politics

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District No. Constituency Name Party Remarks
Surat 155 Olpad Mukesh Patel Bharatiya Janata Party MoS
156 Mangrol (Surat) (ST) Ganpat Vasava Bharatiya Janata Party
157 Mandvi (Surat) (ST) Kunvarjibhai Halpati Bharatiya Janata Party MoS
158 Kamrej Prafulbhai Pansheriya Bharatiya Janata Party MoS
159 Surat East Arvind Rana Bharatiya Janata Party
160 Surat North Kantibhai Balar Bharatiya Janata Party
161 Varachha Road Kishore Kanani Bharatiya Janata Party
162 Karanj Pravinbhai Ghoghari Bharatiya Janata Party
163 Limbayat Sangita Patil Bharatiya Janata Party
164 Udhana Manubhai Patel Bharatiya Janata Party
165 Majura Harsh Sanghavi Bharatiya Janata Party MoS(I/C)
166 Katargam Vinodbhai Moradiya Bharatiya Janata Party
167 Surat West Purnesh Modi Bharatiya Janata Party
168 Choryasi Sandip Desai Bharatiya Janata Party
169 Bardoli (SC) Ishwarbhai Parmar Bharatiya Janata Party
170 Mahuva (Surat) (ST) Mohanbhai Dhodia Bharatiya Janata Party

Culture

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Places of tourist interest in Surat are the old fort build by Muhammad bin Tughluq, the beautiful beaches of Ubhrat and Dumas, the villages of Bardoli.

Industry at a Glance

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Industry and data
No Head Unit Particulars
1 REGISTERED INDUSTRIAL UNIT Number 52,252
2 TOTAL INDUSTRIAL UNIT Number 52,252
3 REGISTERED MEDIUM & LARGE UNIT Number 805
4 ESTIMATED AVERAGE NO. OF DAILY & WORKER EMPLOYED IN SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES Number 1,45,527
5 EMPLOYMENT IN LARGE & MEDIUM INDUSTRIES Number 1,68,987
6 NO. OF INDUSTRIAL AREA Number 10
7 TURNOVER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES Rs. (in Lacs) 6,180
8 TURNOVER OF MEDIUM & LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIES Rs. (in Lacs) 34,862

The above details has been taken from Brief Industrial Profile of Surat District[15]

Notable personalities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "District Census Hand Book – Surat" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  2. ^ a b "Districts of Gujarat".
  3. ^ Krishan, Shri (2005-04-07). Political Mobilization and Identity in Western India, 1934-47. New Delhi, India: SAGE Publications India. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-321-0208-3.
  4. ^ Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.
  5. ^ a b "What Surat learned from a preventable flood | Citiscope". citiscope.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  6. ^ "State fails to find solution to Surat floods – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  7. ^ "INDIA – SURAT". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  8. ^ "Surat Climate Guide". World Climate Guide. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  9. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  10. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-10-01. El Salvador 6,071,774 July 2011 est.
  11. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Missouri 5,988,927
  12. ^ "Surat District : Census 2011 data". Census 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Population by Religion - Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  15. ^ "Profile of Surat District" (PDF).
  16. ^ Basic Information about Gunvant Shah
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