Raebareli district (also spelt Rae Bareli) is an administrative district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is part of the Lucknow division and lies in the central plains of the state, in the doab region between the Ganga and the Sai rivers. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Raebareli, which serves as the principal administrative, commercial and educational centre.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Lucknow |
| Headquarters | Raebareli |
| Region | Awadh |
| Major rivers | Ganga, Sai |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Raebareli |
The district forms part of the Gangetic plains and has a generally flat terrain with fertile alluvial soils. The Ganga flows along its southern boundary, while the Sai traverses the central portion of the district. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and cool winters. Agriculture is supported by canal irrigation drawn from the Sharda Canal system as well as tubewells.
Raebareli district is divided into tehsils for revenue administration, with further subdivision into community development blocks and gram panchayats. The district is administered by a District Magistrate, while law and order is supervised by a Superintendent of Police. The district headquarters at Raebareli town houses the principal courts, the collectorate and the offices of the line departments of the state government.
The area now forming Raebareli district was historically part of the Awadh region. It came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire and subsequently the Nawabs of Awadh. After the annexation of Awadh by the British East India Company in 1856, the area was incorporated into the colonial administrative framework, and Raebareli was constituted as a district. The district saw significant activity during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
In the post-independence period, Raebareli became politically prominent as the parliamentary constituency represented at various times by members of the Nehru–Gandhi family, including Feroze Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
The economy of Raebareli district is predominantly agrarian. Principal crops include paddy, wheat, sugarcane, pulses and oilseeds. Industrial development has been concentrated around the town of Raebareli, with notable establishments such as the Modern Coach Factory at Lalganj, which manufactures rail coaches for Indian Railways, and units of the National Thermal Power Corporation in the wider region. Handloom weaving and small-scale industries also contribute to local livelihoods.
The district is home to several institutions of higher learning, including the IIM Lucknow Noida campus links and notably the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Jais, an institute of national importance. The AIIMS Raebareli provides tertiary medical care and education. The Feroze Gandhi College at Raebareli is among the older general degree colleges in the region.
Raebareli is connected by rail on the Lucknow–Varanasi line and by road to Lucknow, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Sultanpur and Unnao. National highways pass through the district, providing connectivity within the Awadh region. The nearest major airport is at Lucknow.
The population of the district is largely rural, with Hindi and Awadhi being the principal languages spoken. The district shares the cultural traditions of the Awadh region, including its cuisine, folk music and festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Eid and local fairs.