Assam Announces 14 New Revenue Circles

The Assam Government has announced the creation of 14 new Revenue Circles and initiated a State-wide reorganisation of existing circles to align them with Assembly constituency boundaries.

Key Highlights

• The Assam Government will establish 14 new Revenue Circles in Assembly constituencies that previously had no dedicated revenue administration unit.
• The newly announced Revenue Circles are Pakabetbari, Chenga, Srijangram, Borkhola, Dholai, Birsing Jarua, Khowang, Jaleswar, Guwahati Central, Naoboicha, Makum, Digboi, Rangapara and Behali.
• The reorganisation aims to make Revenue Circle boundaries co-terminus with Assembly constituencies, ensuring that every village falls within the appropriate administrative jurisdiction.
• The initiative follows the delimitation of Assembly constituencies, after which Panchayat boundaries were reorganised but Revenue Circles remained unchanged, leading to administrative overlaps.
• District Commissioners have been directed to submit proposals within a fixed timeline to ensure transparent and time-bound implementation.
• Members of the Legislative Assembly have also been requested to provide suggestions regarding the transfer of villages wherever boundary adjustments are required.

What is a Revenue Circle?

• A Revenue Circle is the basic field-level administrative unit responsible for land and revenue administration in a district.
• It functions under the District Commissioner and is headed by a Circle Officer.
• It administers land records, mutation, land settlement, revenue collection, disaster relief, election-related work and implementation of various government schemes.

Exam Hook (Prelims)

Q. Which of the following functions is primarily performed by a Revenue Circle in India?

• Maintenance of land records
• Collection of land revenue
• Implementation of land settlement and mutation

Select the correct answer:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 1 only

Answer: (c)

One-line Wrap

The creation of 14 new Revenue Circles is an important governance reform that seeks to improve land administration, administrative efficiency and citizen-centric public service delivery across Assam.