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Kasganj district

Overview

Kasganj district, also spelt Kasganj or Kanshiram Nagar, is a district in the western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Kasganj. It lies in the Doab region between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and forms part of the Aligarh division.

Key facts

Country India
State Uttar Pradesh
Division Aligarh
Headquarters Kasganj
Region Doab, western Uttar Pradesh
Type District

Background

Kasganj was carved out of the older Etah district and constituted as a separate district during the reorganisation of districts in Uttar Pradesh. At the time of its creation it was officially named Kanshiram Nagar, after the political leader Kanshi Ram, founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party. The name was subsequently reverted to Kasganj, after the principal town that serves as its administrative centre.

Geography

The district is situated in the Ganga–Yamuna Doab. The Ganga forms part of its boundary, and the terrain is largely flat alluvial plain typical of the region, supporting intensive agriculture. Kasganj is bordered by districts including Etah, Budaun, Aligarh and Farrukhabad, and lies in proximity to the Soron pilgrimage site on the banks of the Ganga.

Administration

The district is administered by a District Magistrate and is divided into tehsils and development blocks for revenue and rural administration. For police administration it is headed by a Superintendent of Police. Kasganj forms part of the Etah parliamentary constituency for elections to the Lok Sabha, while the district contains assembly constituencies that elect members to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

Economy and connectivity

The economy of Kasganj district is predominantly agricultural, with crops such as wheat, paddy, sugarcane, mustard and pulses being widely cultivated. Sugar processing and small-scale agro-based industry are present in the region. The town of Kasganj is a junction on the North Eastern Railway and is connected by road to Aligarh, Etah, Budaun and Bareilly.

Culture and places of interest

The district has a strong association with the historic pilgrimage town of Soron, regarded by Hindu tradition as a sacred site on the Ganga linked to the Varaha avatar of Vishnu. Local culture reflects the broader traditions of the Braj and western Uttar Pradesh region, including festivals, Awadhi–Braj dialectal influences and rural fairs.

References