Ahmednagar district

Ahmednagar district (Marathi pronunciation: [əɦ(ə)məd̪nəɡəɾ]) is the largest district of Maharashtra state in western India. The historical Ahmednagar city is the headquarters of the district. Ahmednagar and Sangamner are the largest cities in the district. It was the seat of the Ahmednagar Sultanate of late medieval period (1496–1636 CE). This district is known for the towns of Shirdi associated with Sai Baba, Meherabad associated with Meher Baba, Shani Shinganapur with Shanidev, and Devgad with Lord Dattatreya. Ahmednagar district is part of Nashik Division. The district is bordered by Aurangabad district to the northeast, Nashik district to the northwest, Thane and Pune districts to the southwest, Solapur district to the south and Beed district to the southeast.

Although Ahmednagar district was created as early as 1818, modern history of Ahmednagar may be said to have commenced from 1869, the year when parts of Nashik and Solapur, which till then had comprised Nagar, were separated and the present Nagar district was formed. Ahmednagar District was created after the defeat of the Maratha Empire in the Third Anglo Maratha War in 1818, when most of the Peshwa's domains were annexed to British India. The district remained part of the Central division of Bombay Presidency until India's independence in 1947, when it became part of Bombay State, and in 1960 the new state of Maharashtra.

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Ahmednagar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). The district has the maximum number of sugar factories in the state. The first cooperative sugar factory in Asia was established at Pravanagar. A role model of water conservation work can be seen at Ralegaon Siddhi, which is also called the Ideal Village.

Islam arrived in Ahmednagar during the Tughlaq dynasty. There are many Muslim monuments like salabat khan's Tomb known as chandbibi, Faria Baug, Ground Fort and many dargas (mosques), and they are found in main town and cities. During the British era Ahmednagar was part of Bombay presidency. Christian missionaries, particularly from the United states of America, arrived in early 19th century when the British parliament allowed proselytizing in areas under the control of the East India Company. In Ahmednagar Christians are a result of the American Marathi mission and the mission of the Church of England's Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The first Protestant Christian mission in the district was opened in 1831. The Hume Memorial Congregational Church in Ahmednagar city was built in 1833 by WIDER CHURCH MINISTRIES OF USA later known as American Marathi Mission. Christianity has been Ahmednagar's third largest religion, found all over the district except in the south west. It is called as Jerusalem of Maharashtra. Every village has one or more resident families as Christian and every village has its own church for worship. Ahmednagar's Christians are called Marathi Christians and a majority of them are Protestants.

Name Term of office Dr. Rajendra Bhosale (IAS) 2020 Incumbent