Nuh district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Haryana. Established in 2005 as Mewat district after being carved out of Gurgaon district, it was renamed Nuh district in 2016. The district headquarters are located in the town of Nuh. It forms part of the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.
History
- 2005: The state government of Haryana created Mewat district by separating the Mewat region from Gurgaon district.
- 2016: The district was officially renamed Nuh district following a state‑government order; the change reflected the name of the district’s administrative center.
Geography
- Location: Southern Haryana, bordering the Indian states of Rajasthan (to the west) and Uttar Pradesh (to the east) and the Delhi NCR (to the north).
- Area: Approximately 1,262 km² (487 sq mi).
- Topography: The district lies on the northern fringe of the Aravalli Range, characterized by undulating terrain, low hills, and seasonal streams.
- Climate: Subtropical, with hot summers, a monsoon season, and mild winters.
Administrative divisions
Nuh district is divided into several sub‑districts (tehsils), including:
- Nuh (also called Mewat)
- Ferozepur Jhirka
- Sirsa (also known as Sirsa‑Mewat)
- Punahana
Each tehsil consists of numerous villages and towns administered by local panchayats and municipal bodies.
Demographics (2011 Census)
- Population: 1,303,538 residents.
- Population density: Approximately 1,033 inhabitants per km².
- Sex ratio: 905 females per 1,000 males.
- Literacy rate: 66.8 % (male literacy 75.6 %, female literacy 57.1 %).
- Religion: The district has a Muslim majority (approximately 80 %), primarily comprising the Meo community, with Hindus constituting the remaining share.
- Languages: The predominant spoken language is Mewati, a dialect of Rajasthani‑Hindi; Hindi and English are used for official and educational purposes.
Economy
- Agriculture: The principal economic activity; major crops include wheat, mustard, millet, and pulses, cultivated largely on rain‑fed fields.
- Livestock: Dairy farming and cattle rearing are significant contributors to rural incomes.
- Industry: Limited industrial presence; small‑scale manufacturing units and cottage industries (textiles, handicrafts) exist mainly in and around the district headquarters.
- Challenges: The district faces developmental constraints such as lower per‑capita income, limited infrastructure, and higher rates of poverty compared with the state average.
Transportation
- Road: The district is traversed by State Highway 26 and National Highway 352, providing connectivity to Gurgaon, Delhi, and Alwar (Rajasthan).
- Rail: The nearest railway stations are at Rewari (approximately 70 km) and Gurgaon (around 60 km). No railway line passes directly through the district.
- Air: The nearest major airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, about 90 km away.
Education and Health
- Education: The district contains government and private schools offering primary to senior secondary education; higher education institutions include a few colleges affiliated with Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Literacy initiatives have been implemented to improve female education.
- Healthcare: Public health facilities consist of a district hospital in Nuh town, sub‑district hospitals, and primary health centers serving rural areas.
Cultural aspects
The district’s cultural heritage is closely linked to the Meo community, known for its distinct folk music, traditional dress, and festivals that blend Islamic and regional customs.
Developmental initiatives
Various state and central government schemes target Nuh district for infrastructure development, sanitation, rural electrification, and skill training, aiming to reduce socio‑economic disparities relative to other districts of Haryana.