Madhepura district is an administrative district in the state of Bihar, India. It forms part of the Kosi Division and lies in the northern plains of Bihar, an area historically shaped by the Kosi river system. The town of Madhepura serves as the district headquarters.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Bihar |
| Division | Kosi |
| Headquarters | Madhepura |
| Type | District |
Madhepura is situated in the Kosi region of north-eastern Bihar. The district lies on the alluvial plains formed by the Kosi and its distributaries, making the terrain largely flat and agriculturally productive but also prone to seasonal flooding. It is bordered by Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Purnia and Bhagalpur districts in different directions.
The district is administered by a District Magistrate and is divided into subdivisions, blocks and panchayats for revenue and developmental purposes. Madhepura town functions as the principal administrative, educational and commercial centre. The district was carved out as a separate administrative unit from Saharsa district in 1981.
The economy of Madhepura is predominantly agrarian, with paddy, maize, wheat, jute and pulses being important crops. Dairying and small-scale trade also contribute to local livelihoods. The district has gained industrial visibility through the Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory, a major rail manufacturing facility set up in collaboration between Indian Railways and Alstom for the production of high-horsepower electric freight locomotives.
Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, headquartered at Madhepura, is the principal institution of higher education in the region and serves several neighbouring districts of the Kosi area through its affiliated colleges.
Madhepura is connected by rail and road to other parts of Bihar. The Madhepura railway station lies on the Eastern Railway network, and the district is linked to Saharsa, Purnia and Bhagalpur through state highways.
Madhepura is notable for its political prominence in Bihar, having produced several leaders associated with socialist and backward-class politics in post-independence India. The district has long been associated with the legacy of Bhupendra Narayan Mandal, after whom its university is named.