Paschim Medinipur is situated in the South Western side of West Bengal. It is bounded by Bankura and Purulia district in the North, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts of Orrisa in the South, Hooghly and Purba Medinipur district in the East and Singhbhum district of Jharkhand and Purulia district of West Bengal in West. The district is between 21° 47 ¢ N - 23° 00 ¢ N and 86° 40¢ E - 87° 52 ¢ E. The district consists of 4 Sub-divisions, 27 Police Stations, 29 Blocks and 8 Municipalities.

Paschim Medinipur district has been carved from the erstwhile Midnapore district and came into existence from 1^st January 2002. It has 9295.28 sq. km. of geographical area and population of 5193411 as per census 2001. There are 641315 cultivators, 663626 small and marginal farmers, 746209 agricultural labourers, 162797 artisans and allied agro-industries and 584197 other workers. The S.C. and S.T. percentage is 18.05 and 14.87 respectively. Population density of the district is 558.71 persons per sq. km.

The district has an area of 929528 hectares out of which total forest area is 173038 ha. which constitutes about 18.61 % of its total geographical area. Net area under cultivation is 585222 ha. (63 %), cultural waste land 18932 ha. (2 %), barren and uncultivable land 20132 ha. (2.16 %) and area under non-agricultural use 141290 ha. (15.20 %).  Thus, a vast area is available for various development projects. The cultivable waste and other fallow lands, which are not available for arable farming, would be fit for development of horticulture and other tree crops.

 The climate is tropical and the land surface of the district is characterised by hard rock uplands, lateritic covered area, and flat alluvial and deltaic plains. Extremely rugged topography is seen in the western part of the district and rolling topography is experienced consisting of lateritic covered area. These rolling plains gradually merge into flat alluvial and deltaic plains to the east and south east of the district. The soil is fairly fertile. Normal rainfall is 1560 mm and average rainfall various of the district is 1656 mm. The climate is characterized by hot summer, cold winter, abundant rainfall and humidity.from 1450 mm to 1560 mm per year.

 Kangsabati, Silabati, Subarnarekha, Dulongs, Keleghai and their tributaries are the main rivers of the district. Irrigation is provided to both kharif and rabi crops. Kangsabati canal system is the main irrigation scheme. Ground water supports supplementary irrigation. 63% of net cultivable area irrigated and exploitation of ground water potential only 27 % of the utilizable recharge. The ground water development and judicious management of the surface water are the vital factors for promoting modern agriculture through high yielding and remunerative crops, particularly in the western parts of the district.

Paddy occupies the first place in production; other important crops are potato, wheat, jute, oilseeds, betel vine, groundnut, sugarcane, cashew nut and mat stick. Vegetables are grown in some areas. The district has a suitable agro-climatic condition for cultivation of mulberry and horticulture crops such as mango, banana, guava, lemon, mousambi, papaya, cashew and jackfruit.

                Animal husbandry provides ample potential in the district due importance in commercialization of agriculture, willingness of the farmer to explore new avenues for investments due to pressure on land and limited capacity of the primary sector to absorb the ever increasing rural population. The crossbred cattle population is hardly 1% of the total population and therefore, enormous scope exists for genetic improvement of cattle. The improved layers are less than 5 % of the population. Mostly traditional poultry birds are reared in the backyard. The per capita availability of the milk is only 125 grams per day. Considering the huge market inside and outside the district, the dairy sector needs to be planned in a scientific manner to have the desired growth.

Fishery in the district is no longer a traditional mode of earning for a particular section of the people; it represents one of the important sector contributing towards the growth of the economy of the district. The present day fishery in the district comprises of the fishing proper in its various forms, processing and marketing. These core constituents of modern fishery are organically interlinked with each stage; each stage being capable of influencing the efficiency, efficacy and performance of the other. This calls for a scientific approach of management in each stage as the sector is becoming capital intensive day by day and a slight variation in any constituent may affect the livelihood of thousands.  The water area is suitable not only for carp culture, but also fresh water prawn  and other catfish culture. The fish feed is also available in the major places of the district. The assured local market as well as export market for fresh water prawn makes it attractive for bank finance.

The district is predominant in agriculture with 70% of the population dependent on agriculture and allied activities. At the same time, huge potential exists for various industrial activities in the district. Presently, the main industrial area is around Kharagpur. Small Scale industrial clusters are coming up in Jhargarm, Chandrakona Road, Garhbeta and Midnapore. These units are based on agriculture, forest produce, animal husbandry, chemicals and engineering. The existing industries where improvement, technological up-gradation and further investments can be done profitably include units based on mat stick, wood, floriculture, pottery, stone curving and crushing, jewellery of conch shell, babui grass, cashew processing and packaging, manufacture of gums, manufacture of incense sticks, soft toys, bamboo and cane work, sal leaf plates, various jute products, sericulture, tasar, poultry cattle feed making, potato chips, mango and other fruits pickles, jams, milk chilling, processing and dairy products, processing, packaging and marketing of cereals, pulses, chili and turmeric powder, rice huller, muri and chira, rice mills, bee keeping, oil mills, medicinal plants, fish processing for export, mushroom processing. Handloom is a traditional industry which engages a considerable number of artisans.

Kharagpur, an important junction of the South-Eastern Railway is located centrally in the district. It provides connectivity to all parts of the country for passengers as well as goods. The Diesel and EMU workshop has opened scope for small scale and ancillary units. The strategic location of the town has helped to establish some consumer goods, engineering, plastic and chemical industries. Haldia is the nearest port which is well connected to various parts of the district.

In the district, there are 17630 Self Help Groups. The Group members have been given skill development training in different trades for undertaking income generating activities. Educated unemployed entrepreneurs have been encouraged for setting up different food processing and other small scale industrial units on cluster basis through providing infrastructural facilities like land, water arrangement, roads and power.   These activities can be increased in scale and replicated for providing opportunities to the unemployed youth. 

The Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur is a pioneering educational institution of the country. Apart from its academic activities, it has taken up a number of initiatives in the areas of wasteland development and watershed management in the district. It is actively involved with the resource mapping of the district. Vidyasagar University in Midnapore also offers research facility in the areas of biotechnology and other sciences, creating a direct linkage between the laboratory and the field.

The experience of draught and flood is common in the District. The flood prone area is about 142647 ha. (Ghatal & part of Kharagpur Sub-Division) Draught prone area is about 335248 ha (Jhargram and Sadar Sub-Division). The Sub-division of Ghatal and the Southern parts of Kharagpur sub-division are affected by water logging during rainy season. As a result, there is frequent loss of crops. The blocks of Sabang, Pingla and Narayangarh in Kharagpur sub-division, where mat stick is grown, often suffers from such losses. Such floods also affect the Paddy and potato crops that are grown extensively in this basin region. Many areas in the Jhargram sub division have an undulating topography and laterite soil, which is unsuitable for large-scale cultivation. Drought affects the population here frequently and causes damage to the limited agriculture in the area. Though the district does not have a coastline, it is affected frequently by the cyclones during the months of October and November and untimely rains during April and May.

Paschim Medinipur is the land of freedom fighters, social reformers and also the mother land of martyrs like Khudiram, Matangini Hazra, Prodyat Bhattacharya, Hemchandra Kanongo and the pioneer of educational renaissance of Bengal. This district has also enriched with diversified socio-cultural activities such as tradition and culture of tribal groups like Lodhas, Sabars and Santals. It has many rivers, hillocks and ever green forests with flora and fauna, a land of rich cultural heritage and historical monuments with unique distinction. Important tourists spots in the district are  Gopegarh Heritage & Nature of Eco-tourism, Gurguripal Eco-tourism, Chandra Eco-tourism, Arrahbari, Pathra, Karnagarh, Mohoboni, Parimal Kanan, Ganganirdanga, Rupa Ghagra, Kurumbera Durga, Chilkigarh, Jhargram Rajbati, Odolchua, Kanakdurga Mandir, Kankarajhore, Hatibari, Chichira, Taraferini, Kanaisore Pahar, Banspahari, Birsingha, Narajole Rajbari etc.

 National Highway No.6 and 60 run offer high-speed connectivity to various parts of the district and other cities. The different classes of roads consist of National Highway, State Highway, District roads and Village roads connects the villages with the towns and industrial centres. This district is facilitated by the network of South Eastern Railways.

This site is designed, developed and maintained by  National Informatics Centre, Paschim Medinipur District Centre