Uttar Pradesh Renames Bhadohi as Sant Ravidas Nagar

Uttar Pradesh renamed Bhadohi district as Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi on 4 October 2026. The district was carved out of Varanasi district and became the 65th district of Uttar Pradesh on 30 June 1994.

District Renaming in Uttar Pradesh

District renaming in India is an administrative act carried out by a state government through official notification. Such changes are common in Uttar Pradesh, where district names have been altered for historical, political, cultural, or social reasons.

Bhadohi District and Sant Ravidas

Bhadohi is known for its carpet industry and is associated with Sant Ravidas, a medieval saint linked with the Bhakti tradition. Sant Ravidas is also known as Ravidas or Raidas in historical and religious texts.

Name Changes of Bhadohi District

The district name changed several times between 1997 and 2014. The Mayawati government renamed it Sant Ravidas Nagar in December 1997, the Ram Prakash Gupta-led government changed it to Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi in November 1999, and the Akhilesh Yadav-led government restored the name Bhadohi in December 2014.

Important Facts for Exams

• Bhadohi district became the 65th district of Uttar Pradesh on 30 June 1994.
• The district was carved out of Varanasi district.
• Sant Ravidas Nagar was first used as a district name in December 1997.
• Bhadohi is widely known for its carpet industry.

Development Projects in Bhadohi

On 4 October 2026, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 112 development projects worth over ₹1,340 crore in Bhadohi. The event took place in the district where the renaming announcement was made.

Political and Administrative Context

District names in Uttar Pradesh have changed under different governments, including the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Samajwadi Party. Bhadohi’s latest renaming adds another entry to the state’s record of district-level name changes.