Gandhinagar: In a significant move aimed at strengthening local governance, the Gujarat government has approved the creation of 17 new talukas, taking the total number in the state to 269. The decision was announced after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, ahead of the local body elections scheduled for January-February 2026.

State Government Spokesperson Minister Rushikesh Patel said the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to decentralisation and public convenience. “With new taluka headquarters closer to citizens, people will save time, money, and effort, while gaining better access to social, economic, health, and educational services,” he added.

The cabinet also approved the formation of Vav-Tharad district, carved out of Banaskantha, which will comprise six talukas — Vav, Tharad, Suigam, Bhabhar, Deodar, and Lakhni — with Tharad as the district headquarters.

The newly created talukas will also benefit from the Chief Minister’s Gramotthan Yojana, enabling faster development and urban-oriented growth.

This move is the largest expansion of talukas in Gujarat since 2013, when 23 new talukas were created under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as Gujarat’s Chief Minister.

 

The new administrative units are expected to simplify governance at the grassroots level, reducing travel for citizens who currently need to visit distant taluka offices for routine work.

Political observers note that the timing of the announcement, just months before local body elections, may also offer electoral advantages by creating new administrative centers and local job opportunities, strengthening the ruling party’s connect with voters.

Experts view the decision as part of a broader administrative reform agenda by the Bhupendra Patel government, which has already upgraded nine municipalities to municipal corporations this year, including towns like Mehsana, Vapi, Navsari, Anand, and Porbandar.

Since the formation of Gujarat in 1960, the state has periodically added new districts and talukas to meet growing administrative and developmental needs.

The latest step, creating 17 new talukas along with the Vav-Tharad district, reflects the government’s dual focus on administrative efficiency and citizen-centric governance, while also addressing political aspirations ahead of the elections.