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Meerut is a that serves as the administrative headquarters of and lies in Western Uttar Pradesh. The city lies in the of and is part of the Indian National Capital Region (NCR). Meerut is located northeast of the national capital, , and northwest of the state capital, . Meerut is also the second-most populous city in the NCR, after . As of 2025, Meerut’s urban (metro) population is estimated at ≈ 1.875 million. The population of Meerut Municipal Corporation is projected to be about 1.907 million, while the wider Meerut metropolitan region is estimated at approximately 2.077 million. Meerut is among the most populous cities in NCR, after Delhi and Ghaziabad. It also ranks high in India in terms of urban agglomeration population

In 1803, Meerut rose to prominence during the , serving as the site of one of India’s largest . Meerut was one of the where the 1857 rebellion against British rule began. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Sports City of India' since it is one of the largest producers of sports goods in the country. The city is also known as the largest producer of musical instruments in the country, as well as one of largest gold markets. The city is also an education hub in western . Meerut city has the third-highest per capita income after Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar ( and ).

India's first Regional Rapid Transit System, Delhi Meerut RRTS, is partially operational in Meerut and serves as an inter-city high-speed metro corridor. Meerut is connected by three expressways, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Ganga Expressway, and Meerut-Kanpur Expressway.


Origin of the name
The name Meerut is believed to have evolved from Maya Rashtra (मयराष्ट्र), the capital city of the mythological kingdom ruled by Mayasura, a legendary architect and the father of Mandodari, wife of Ravana. Over the centuries, the name underwent several transformations—such as Mairashtra, Mai-dant-ka-khera, and Mairaath—before settling into its current form, Meerut.

Another tradition attributes the city’s origin to King Yudhishthira, who is said to have granted the land to Mayasura in recognition of his architectural prowess. According to this account, Mayasura named the region Maharashtra (not to be confused with the modern day Indian state of ), which eventually morphed into Meerut due to linguistic and historical evolution.

An alternative version suggests that Meerut was part of the dominions of , the ruler of Indraprastha, and that the city’s name is derived from his association with the area.

(1998). 9788176250245, Sarup & Sons. .


History

Ancient era
Archaeological excavations conducted between 1950 and 1952 at Vidura-ka-Tila, a collection of several mounds named after northeast of Meerut, concluded that Meerut contains the remains of the ancient city of , the capital of the and of , which was washed away by floods from the .

Meerut also contained a Harappan settlement known as , the easternmost settlement of the Indus Valley civilisation. Meerut was a centre of during the reign of emperor (r. 273 BC to 232 BC.), and remains of structures were found near the Jama Masjid in the present day city. The Ashoka Pillar, at , was carried to from Meerut by Firuz Shah Tughluq (r. 1351–1388). It was later damaged in a 1713 explosion and restored in 1867.

In Hindu mythology, Meerut has a strong connection to the Mahabharata. One of the main characters in the epic, , is said to have been born here.


Muslim conquests
In the eleventh century AD, the region to the south-west of the city was ruled by Har Dat, the Dor Raja of . He built a fort, which was long known for its strength and was mentioned in the . He was later defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018 and surrendered along with his forces to Mahmud. The Jama Masjid, a prominent local landmark, was said to be built by Mahmud's in this period. Shortly after its capture, the city was regained by the local Hindu Raja and part of his fortifications, built for the city's defense, survived until recent times.
(1972). 9780520020641, University of California Preas. .
Muhammad of Ghor's general Qutb-ud-din Aybak attacked and captured Meerut in 1193.
(2015). 9781317321279, Routledge. .

attacked and sacked Meerut in 1399. The city was held by Ilyas Afghan and his son Maula Muhammad Thaneswari, who were assisted by non-Muslims led by Safi. tried to negotiate a surrender, but the inhabitants of the fort replied saying that had tried to capture the city in the past, but failed. Incensed, attacked the city with 10,000 cavalry. The forces scaled the walls and Safi was killed in the battle. The inhabitants were killed and their wives and children were enslaved. The fortifications and houses were razed to the ground, and the prisoners were ordered to be .

(2025). 9781317208716, Cambridge University Press. .

The city then came under the rule of the and saw a period of relative tranquility. During the rule of (r. 1556–1605), there was a mint producing copper coins in the city. During the reign of Akbar, Meerut was listed in the as a under Delhi Sarkar, producing a revenue of 4,391,996 dams for the imperial treasury and supplying a force of 300 infantry and 100 cavalry. A major part of Meerut was controlled by of Abdullapur Meerut, from 16th to late 18th century. Sayyed Mir Abdulla Naqvi Al Bukhari built Kot Fort in Abdullapur in 16th century, and it became his main residence. The descendants of Syed Sadarudin Shah Kabir Naqvi Al Kannauji Bukhari are still present in Meerut; Sadarudin was a chief advisor of and the father of great saint . The famous Pakistani writer Syed Qudrat Naqvi Al Bukhari was born in Meerut.

Nawab Mansab Ali Khan was one of the most influential personalities of Meerut; he built the famous Karbala and Masjid, known as Mansabiya, in 1882.

The city saw Sikh and Maratha invasions in the 18th century, with interruptions by Taga Brahman and Rohillas. Walter Reinhardt, a European soldier, established himself at , and some parts of the district came under his rule. Upon his death, these areas came into the hands of . During this time, the southern part of the district had remained under the rule.


Colonial era
In 1803, with the fall of Delhi, Daulat Rao Scindia of the ceded the territory to the British East India Company (EIC). The cantonment of Meerut was established in 1806 due to its proximity to Delhi and its location in the fertile Doab region. The city was made headquarters of the in 1818.
(1972). 9780520020641, University of California Press. .

Meerut is often associated with the 1857 rebellion against Company rule in India. The slogan " Dilli Chalo" ("Let's march to Delhi!") was first spoken in the city, and the Meerut was the place where the rebellion started. Another name for Meerut is "Kranti Dhara," or "the land of revolution," denoting the place where India's independence movement began.

The revolt, which catapulted Meerut into international prominence, began in March 1857 in , Bengal. Indian sepoy shot at two of his commanding officers, missed, then . He was later executed. By April, Pandey's uprising had spread across North India and reached Meerut, which was then the second-largest East India Company garrison. Here, Europeans and native sepoys were evenly balanced, with a little more than 2,000 on each side. The European was separated from the Indian one. Sadar Bazar and Lal Kurti Bazar were close by, the latter named after the red uniforms worn by the Presidency armies. On 24 April 1857, Meerut's commander, Colonel Carmichael Smyth, paraded 90 Indian Sepoy of the , most of whom had come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He ordered the soldiers to fire the new Enfield cartridges they had been supplied with. The cartridges were covered with paper that had to be torn off, and Muslim soldiers believed the paper was greased with pig fat and Hindus thought it was greased with cow fat. Thus, they refused to touch them when ordered to.

All 85 soldiers were stripped of their uniforms, and ; they were all sentenced to a decade in prison. The prisoners, who were members of a , were shocked at the harsh sentences handed down to them. On 10 May 1857, Kotwal Dhan Singh Gurjar opened the gates of the prison. These soldiers, along with the other imprisoned soldiers, escaped prison and declared themselves free. They proceeded to mutiny, attack, and kill several Company officials in the city to bring it under their control. This marked the beginning of a widespread revolt across northern India, as the soldiers marched towards Delhi. 10 May is celebrated as a local holiday in Meerut.

Meerut was also the venue of the Meerut Conspiracy Case in March 1929, in which several , including three , were arrested by the colonial authorities for organizing a railway . The case quickly became the subject of attention in England, inspiring a 1932 play titled Meerut Prisoners by left-wing street theatre group the Red Megaphones, which highlighted the detrimental effects of and industrialisation. Electricity was first introduced to Meerut in 1931. In the 1940s, during the height of the Indian independence movement, cinema-goers in Meerut had an unofficial policy of refusing to stand up when God Save the King played before the film was shown. The last session of the Indian National Congress (INC) before the independence of India in 1947, was held at Victoria Park in Meerut on 26 November 1946. It was in this session that the Constitution-making committee was constituted.


Post-independence era
The city and district also suffered from communal Hindu-Sikh riots in 1984 and Hindu-Muslim riots in 1982. In May 1987, the Hashimpura massacre occurred when personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) shot and killed 42 Muslims; the trial of the case is still pending. In 2006, a fire at a consumer electronics "Brand India" fair in Victoria Park Stadium killed at least 100 people, with authorities confirming 45 fatalities, although a specific figure on a toll was difficult to determine and was believed to be much higher.


Geography
Meerut lies between the plains of the and the . By land area, Meerut district covers 2,522km2 (974 sq mi), which is larger than Delhi (Delhi covers an area of 1,484km2 573).


Climate
Meerut has a influenced humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and cooler winters. Summers last from early April to late June and are extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to .

The monsoon arrives in late June and continues till the middle of September. Temperatures drop slightly, with increased cloud cover and higher humidity. Temperatures rise again in October and the city then has a mild, dry winter season from November to the middle of March. The lowest temperature ever recorded is , on 6 January 2013. The rainfall averages about per annum, which is suitable for crop cultivation. Most of the rainfall is received during the . The humidity varies from 30 to 100%.

Meerut has been ranked 25th best "National Clean Air City" (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results'


Administration

General administration
The consists of six districts, and is headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut, who is a senior IAS officer. The Commissioner is the head of local government institutions (including Municipal Corporations) in the division, and is in charge of infrastructural development in their division.
(2025). 9788125019886, Orient Blackswan Private Ltd..
(1993). 9788170993810, Mittal Publications.
(2025). 9789339204785, McGraw Hill Education.
The District Magistrate of Meerut reports to the Divisional Commissioner. The current Commissioner is Selva Kumari J.

The Meerut district administration is headed by the District Magistrate of Meerut, who is an IAS officer. The DM is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the central government and oversees the elections held in the city.

(2025). 9788125019886, Orient Blackswan Private Ltd..
(2025). 9789339204785, McGraw Hill Education.
(1993). 9788170993810, Mittal Publications.
The district is subdivided into three , namely Meerut, Mawana and Sardhana, each headed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The tehsils are further divided into 12 blocks. The current District Magistrate of Meerut is Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh.


Police administration
The Meerut district comes under the Meerut police zone and the Meerut police range of Uttar Pradesh Police. The Meerut zone is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG), whereas the Meerut range is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IG). Currently, Rajeev Sabharwal is the ADG of the Meerut Zone and, Praveen Kumar is the current IG of the Meerut range.

The District Police of Meerut is headed by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) who is an IPS officer. He is assisted by four Superintendents of Police (SP)/Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP) (City, Rural Area, Traffic and Crime). The Meerut district is divided into numerous police circles, each headed by a Circle Officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. SP (Traffic) and SP (Crime) are assisted by one Circle Officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The current SSP is Rohit Singh Sajwan.


Infrastructure and civic administration
The development of infrastructure in the city is overseen by the Meerut Development Authority (MDA), which comes under the Housing Department of Uttar Pradesh government. The Divisional Commissioner of Meerut acts as the ex-officio Chairman of MDA, whereas a vice-chairman, a government-appointed IAS officer, looks after the daily matters of the authority. The current vice-chairman of Meerut Development Authority is Sita Ram Yadav.

The city is administered by Meerut Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for performing civic administrative functions administered by the Municipal Commissioner (PCS Officer) whereas the Mayor is the ceremonial head of the corporation. The current Municipal Commissioner of Meerut Municipal Corporation is Manoj Kumar Chauhan.


Central government offices
The office of the Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, Meerut Zone, has jurisdiction over 13 districts of and 14 districts of . This jurisdiction was carved out of the Lucknow Zone. It comprises the erstwhile Customs and Central Excise Commissioners of Meerut and . The Meerut Commissionerate was bifurcated into two Commissionerates, namely, 'Meerut-I and Ghaziabad' and the Noida Commissionerate was bifurcated into 'Noida and Meerut-II'. In addition, the jurisdiction of Central Excise Division Bareilly was included in the jurisdiction of Meerut-II Commissionerate.

The CGHS department of Meerut provides comprehensive health care facilities for central government employees and pensioners and their dependents residing in the city.


District management
  • The Jani Khurd Block is established on 1 October 1962.
  • The Rohta block is established on 1 October 1959.
  • The Daurala block is established on 1 October 1962.
  • The Rajpura block is established on 1 October 1959.
  • The Kharkhoda block is established on 1 October 1959.
  • The Mawana block is established on 1 April 1957.
  • The Meerut block is established on 1 April 1957.
  • The Hastinapur block is established on 1 April 1963.
  • The Sardhana block is established on 26 January 1955.
  • The Saroorpur khurd block is established on 1 April 1959.
  • The Machchhara block is established on 1 October 1961.
  • The Parikshitgarh block is established on 1 April 1958.


Demand for High Court bench in Meerut
Almost 54% of all cases reaching the High Court originate from the 22 districts of Western UP, but western Uttar Pradesh does not have a High Court. People must travel 700 km away to Allahabad for hearings. Six high courts (Shimla, Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Nainital, Jammu) from other states are closer than Allahabad from western .

Western Uttar Pradesh has been advocating to have a high court bench in Meerut so that Western Uttar Pradesh can get justice. Notably, west UP accounts for 51.71% of state GDP.

The bench in the western part of the state was first proposed by the government in 1955.


Meerut Cantonment
Meerut Cantonment was established by the British East India Company in 1803 after the Battle of Laswari. It is one of the largest cantonments of India both in land area and population (93684 (civil + military) people) as per the 2011 census. The Revolt of 1857 began in "Kali Paltan" in Meerut Cantonment and soldiers stationed here actively participated in the rebellion. The cantonment surrounds the old city from 3 sides – from Pallavpuram to Sainik Vihar to Ganga Nagar. It is well connected with the rest of country by roads as well as by rail. The Delhi Niti Paas Road (State Highway No. 45) passes through Meerut Cantonment. Meerut cantonment was the divisional headquarters of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the British Indian Army from 1829 to 1920.


Economy

Development
Meerut is the 63rd-fastest-growing urban area in the world. It is the fastest developing city in Uttar Pradesh, after Noida and . According to a June 2011 report by US financial services firm gave Meerut the 5th spot on the "vibrancy" index, ahead of Delhi and Mumbai. The city ranked second on both the financial penetration index, which measures things like the presence of ATMs and bank branches, and on the consumption index, indicating the city's transformation into an urban town.

While the city ranked in the bottom 10 in job creation, the report suggests that overall there are plenty of signs of "potential for urbanization" including future employment opportunities. The infrastructure segment of Meerut is currently going through a boom phase with many new projects like Expressways, Metro, Freight corridors coming up in and around the city. The Upper Ganga Canal Expressway development has also been completed. On the India City Competitiveness Index, the city ranked 46th in 2017. It is India's largest refined sugar producer.

Meerut is a prospective in western Uttar Pradesh due to projects like Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and expressway projects like - Delhi Meerut Expressway, , Delhi Meerut RRTS.


Industry
Meerut is one of the important industrial towns of western Uttar Pradesh with several traditional and modern industries. It is traditionally known for works and industry. Meerut was one of the first cities in northern India where publishing was set up during the 19th century. It was a major center of during the 1860s and 1870s.
(2025). 9788178240824, Orient Blackswan. .

Meerut is a rich agricultural area, being in proximity of Delhi, it is ideal for industry. As of 2011, it is home to 520 micro, small, and medium-scale industries. , Meerut has about 23,471 industrial units, including 15,510 small-scale units and 7,922 cottage industries. Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), Sareen Sports (SS) and BDM one of India's biggest sports goods manufacturers are based out of Meerut.

Existing industries in the city include tyres, textiles, transformers, sugar, distillery, chemical, engineering, paper, publishing, and sports goods manufacturing. Prospective industries include IT and , Logistics.

Meerut is one of two centres of sports goods manufacturing in Indiathe other being . There are numerous sports companies in the city especially for cricket namely SS, SF, SG, RM Sports, BDM, GEM etc. Players like , , , , , and many others have used bats made in Meerut. The 40,000-capacity Kailash Prakash Stadium is located in Meerut.

Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) has two industrial estates in the city, namely Partapur and Udyog Puram.


Transport

Road
Meerut is well-connected by road to major cities like , , , Ghaziabad, , , etc. A large number of people commute to Delhi, Noida, , and Ghaziabad every day for work.

Three national highways (NH-58, NH-119 & NH-235) and two expressways pass through Meerut. The Delhi–Meerut Expressway - a 90 km long controlled-access expressway connects Meerut with Delhi via in Ghaziabad district. Prime Minister laid the for the expressway on 31 December 2015, and the expressway was completed and opened for public on 1 April 2021, also an under construction .

There are two main , namely Bhainsali bus terminal and Sohrab Gate bus terminal from where Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses travel to cities all over the state and all nearby cities. A scheme was put in place. city buses (under JNNURM), normal city buses, auto rickshaws, and rickshaws are convenient public transport options to commute within the city.

Many new transport infrastructure projects like the inner ring road, outer ring road and construction of new flyovers are proposed and being made as well.* The under-construction will start from Meerut till , and in the future, it will be extended from Meerut to . Other expressways that will pass nearby Meerut are the Upper Ganga Canal Expressway, Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun Expressway and Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway.


Railways
Meerut lies on the Delhi–Meerut–Saharanpur line, and has four railway stations: Meerut City, Meerut Cantt., Partapur and Pabli Khas. Meerut City railway station is the busiest. The railway line between and Meerut was constructed in 1864, and the Meerut Cantt station, which serves as a secondary railway station, was founded in 1865.

About 20,000 passengers travel daily to Delhi and back. Around 27 pairs of trains run between Meerut and Delhi, and four between Meerut and Khurja. Two trains are available for daily, namely Nauchandi Express and Rajya Rani Express. A weekly train goes to and . Daily trains connect Meerut to , , , and many cities in other states.


Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor or Eastern DFC is an broad gauge freight corridor in India. The railway will run between in Punjab and (near ) in via Meerut and in .

Apart from this, Delhi Meerut RRTS () will also be used for inter-city cargo movement. Vinay Kumar Singh, managing director of NCRTC said, "During non-peak hours, the ridership would be low, so we can use the time to move cargo, including perishable goods."

Uttar Pradesh government has allocated land for building a large logistic hub in Modipuram region of Uttar Pradesh.


Metro project
On 30 December 2014, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the proposed metro rail project in Meerut, to boost the urban mass transport infrastructure in the city. The state government nominated and Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) to prepare the respective detailed project report (DPR) and as a coordinator, respectively. The development authorities are nodal agencies for the DPR.

The metro project got approval from the divisional commissioner. It was decided in the meeting that the project would be along two corridors, by dividing the project into two phases – Phase I from Partapur to Pallavpuram, and Phase II from Rajban Market to Gokalpur village. The main stations on the first corridor in the first phase will be Partapur, Panchwati Enclave, Rithani, Rithani West, Shatabdi Nagar, Devlok, Madhavpuram, Meerut Railway Station Road, Lajpat Bazaar, Begampul, Gandhi Bagh, Lekha Nagar, Pallavpuram Dorli, Ansal City and Pallavpuram. While in the second phase, the corridor in the Partapur-Pallavpuram route will cover 20 km and will have a total number of 18 stations in between, the 10 km-long route from Rajban Market to Gokalpur village will have nine stations.


Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)
The NCR Transport Plan 2021 proposed a rail-based mass transit system, called the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi to Meerut, with the Shahdara- section scheduled for construction during 2001-11, and the Ghaziabad-Meerut section scheduled for 2011–21.

In September 2010, the RRTS was reported to be proposed between and Meerut with the project in its initial stages. The cost was projected to be around with the expected time of the journey being 45 minutes. In November 2010, the train speed was proposed to be between 130 and 160 kmph, with stations at Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Moradnagar, Modinagar, Meerut South, Shatabdi Nagar, Meerut Centre, Begumpul, Meerut North, Pallavpuram being the stops.

On 14 December 2010, the NCR Planning Board, Meerut Development Authority (MDA), and Meerut Municipal Corporation approved the project. In August 2011, it was reported that the project tender had been awarded to Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). The proposed system was to have dedicated trains between Anand Vihar and Meerut, with no stops in between, and trains that will stop at stations will be constructed after a gap of 4–5 km. The reported stations were Anand Vihar, Vaishali, Mohan Nagar, Meerut Road (Airtel Cut), Morta, Duhai, Muradnagar, Gang Nahar, Modinagar, Mohiuddinpur, Meerut Bypass Cut and Pallavpuram, with completion expected in 2017. The track between Anand Vihar to Dabur was proposed to be underground with the rest of the track overhead.

On 11 July 2013, the Union Cabinet of India approved the formation of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTCL), with a seed capital of . The corporation will take up the construction of the 90 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor on a priority basis (along with two other corridors) with planned completion in 2016. It was reported that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the three corridors were under the process of finalisation.

In December 2013, problems were reported in the proposed alignment of the Delhi-Meerut corridor. In January 2014, it was reported that the proposed alignment had to be changed due to objections by NHAI and the feasibility report had to be prepared again. The new proposed alignment increased the length from 90 km to 106 km.

In March 2018, the project's construction was started after the was laid by Prime Minister, . As of 2023, the alignment is long, and the 17 km first stretch, as the priority corridor, from to is almost completed, and will be opened by March 2023, while the next stretch till South Meerut will be completed by the first quarter of 2024. The entire corridor will be completed by March 2025.


Air
The nearest airport is at Ghaziabad, located away, while the major airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi is about away.

The is located at Partapur. It was proposed by the state government that the airstrip be converted to an international airport to reduce pressure on Delhi Airport. However, plans to expand the Domestic airport were called off after protests against land acquisition started in other parts of the state. Following an accident in May 2012, the city administration barred private flights from using the airstrip.

The city has long demanded an airport. However, the government has stalled the project multiple times due to land acquisition reasons and project costs. Even Ajit Singh, the minister of civil aviation announced the project, but the project was not completed.

BJP MP met Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia minister promised that the Ministry of Civil Aviation will begin running the airport as soon as the Uttar Pradesh government satisfied the demand for land.

As of October 2023, the project is awaiting approval for land acquisition from Uttar Pradesh Government.


Expressways
Since Meerut has a very favourable location for industries and is suitable for being a logistics hub, it has many expressways like Delhi Meerut Expressway, . It also is nearby (within 30 miles) of other expressways like Delhi Mumbai Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, KMP Expressway, and Eastern Peripheral Expressway.


Demographics
According to the 2011 census, the Meerut Urban Agglomeration (Meerut UA) has a population of around 1.42 million, (comparable to the kingdom of or Trinidad and Tobago) with the municipality contributing roughly 1.31 million of it. The Meerut Urban Agglomeration consists of area falling under Meerut Municipal Corporation, Meerut Cantonment Board and four of , Amehra Adipur, Aminagar Urf Bhurbaral and . This makes Meerut the 33rd most populous urban agglomeration and the 28th most populous city in India. The sex ratio in Meerut UA is 897, lower than the state average of 908; while the child sex ratio is 895, lower than the state average of 899. 12.99% of the population is under six years of age. The overall literacy rate is 88.29%, higher than the state average of 69.72%. In Meerut Municipal Corporation, 83.78% of the population spoke and 15.25% as their first language.

, Meerut ranks 328 (based on population), 189 (based on population density), 648 (based on built-up area) among the world's urban areas.

According to the 2001 census, the city ranked second in terms of population in NCR and 25th in India.

+Demographics of Meerut Metropolitan area (Meerut UA) (Census 2011, updated) ! rowspan="2"Metropolis ! rowspan="2"City/Town/Village ! colspan="3"Population ! rowspan="2" ! colspan="3"Literacy Rate
Meerut UAMeerut (CB)530244028893,31276087.99%79.48%84.33%
Meerut (M Corp.)6881186173111,305,42989780.97%69.79%75.66%
Mohiuddinpur (CT)281123895,20085089.17%69.63%80.13%
Aminagar Urf Bhurbaral (CT)331428276,14185391.01%69.68%81.02%
Amehra Adipur (CT)284426415,48592985.68%68.05%77.14%
Sindhawali (CT)278225535,33591879.92%64.44%72.53%
Meerut UA - Total752,893668,0091,420,90288781.57 %70.36 %76.28 %

+Historical Population Statistics
182.74%
-0.79%
22.34%
19.91%
-0.71%
-1.6%
5.12%
11.49%
23.83%
37.74%
21.79%

+ Meerut Urban Agglomeration (Meerut UA) Population Statistics
NA
887

+ Literacy Rate (Percentage) ! YearTotal
59.62
78.29 (+18.67)
90.29 (+12)

+ Crime Rate in Meerut (Total cognisable crimes under IPC per lakh population) ! YearRate in India
192.2
196.7
215.5
229.2
234.2


Culture
Many traditional Indian festivals, including , , , are celebrated in Meerut. Notably, the Nauchandi Fair, which began in1672, is held annually two weeks after Holi. The fair typically runs for approximately 15 days and attracts a large number of visitors. Events at the fair include poetry recitations in languages such as Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.
9788187100430, Prabhat Prakashan. .

Meerut serves as the headquarters of the Diocese of Meerut, which encompasses the districts of Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Dehradun, Haridwar, Moradabad, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Ghaziabad, Baghpat and the Dhampur Tehsil of Bijnor district.

The cuisine of Meerut reflects influences from , , and . Local dishes commonly associated with the city include much of the vegetarian dishes and sweets as mostly population still is vegetarian .


Nauchandi Mela (Fair)
The Nauchandi Mela is an annual held at Nauchandi Ground in Meerut. The fair stretches for about a month and is organized by the Municipal Corporation of Meerut. It generally starts from the second Sunday after . The main exhibits are the artistic and religious rituals followed in rustic Uttar Pradesh. The fair witnesses more than 50,000 visitors every year. The ' Nauchandi Express train is named after this fair.

The fair has a prominent history dating back several hundreds of years. It started in the year 1672 AD as a one-day cattle trading fair and has been held every year after, excluding 1858, the year after 1857 revolt, which started from Meerut.

Since then, cattle trading has been replaced by many other activities. The fair features shops for 's Chikan work, 's , 's carpets, rugs and silk , 's footwear, 's leather items, etc. Meerut's own products like sports goods, scissors, , are also sold. Giant , , circus, and various other recreational arenas where artists perform stunts, remain a big attraction of the fair.


Film and television
Meerut is home to a film industry, which has a following in Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The films are usually folklore stories, comedies, or localised versions of Bollywood hits. The films which have been shot here include Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Zero, and .

Notable people from Meerut in the film and television industry include Bharat Bhushan, , Mandakini,

(1985). 9780861320905, Cinema India-International. .
, , Chitrangada Singh, , and .


Education
Meerut is an education hub of Western Uttar Pradesh with about four or five universities, approximately 50 engineering colleges, 23 management colleges, seven pharmacy colleges, four colleges offering hotel management, one college offering fashion design, over 150 academic colleges, and over 50 schools. The city is home to Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Shobhit Institute of Engineering & Technology and IIMT University. The city has one government-run engineering college, Sir Chhotu Ram Institute of Engineering and Technology, a constituent college of Chaudhary Charan Singh University. There are schools affiliated with recognized boards such as ICSE, CBSE, IB, and the state board. St. Mary's Academy, Meerut (a Patrician Brothers school) is a nationally top-ranked boys' school. St. John's Sr. Sec School (established by ) which is over 130 years old, also the first IB school in Uttar Pradesh was Vidya Global School.

Shobhit Institute of Engineering & Technology is the only university in Meerut district. It was notified in 2006 by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India u/s 3 of UGC Act 1956.

is the oldest engineering institute in Meerut district. It was established in 1997.

Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) is a public and state university that has many degree colleges affiliated with it. They fall into two divisions: and Meerut with nine districts including , Meerut, , Ghaziabad ,, Gautam Budh Nagar, , and administered by Vice-Chancellor and Registrar (PCS officer). The Indian Film and Television Institute is located at the western bypass of the city. The city has three medical colleges: Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College, Subharti Medical College and Mulayam Singh Yadav Medical College & Hospital.


Notable schools
  • St. Mary's Academy, Meerut


Media
Meerut is becoming a media centre, as journalists from all over and other Indian states are working in Meerut. Radio stations shared with Delhi are Radio City 91.1 MHz, Big FM 92.7 MHz, Red FM 93.5 MHz, Radio One 94.3 MHz, Hit 95 (95 MHz), 98.3 MHz, AIR FM Rainbow 102.6 MHz, 104.8 MHz, AIR FM Gold 106.4 MHz. (90.4 MHz) is the only radio station located in the city. The Hindi-language daily newspapers Hindustan (newspaper), Rajasthan Patrika, , , Dainik Janwani, The Hindu, Rashtrasewa, Dainik Jagran iNext are published from the city. The English daily Times of India, Meerut edition and the English language supplement HT City, Meerut with is also published there. Moneymakers, an English daily is also published there. Asian Express, Hindi newspaper, and news magazine Citizen of the World are also published there.


Tourist destinations
Tourist destinations in and around Meerut include the following:
  • Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapur – Located on the banks of the old ravine of the Ganges, Hastinapur NCR is considered one of the holiest places on earth by Jains. It is believed to be the birthplace of three Jain Tirthankaras. There are many ancient Jain temples in Hastinapur NCR with Shri Digamber Jain Mandir, Jambudweep, Kailash Parvat Rachna, and Shwetambar Jain Temple being the most well known. Apart from Jain temples, the Pandeshwar temple, the Historical Gurdwara, and the Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen.
  • Government Freedom Struggle Museum and Shaheed Smarak - Government Freedom Struggle Museum, Meerut was established in 1997. It is located in the Shaheed Smarak compound on Delhi Road, about 6 km north-east of the city railway station and at a distance of about 200 meters from the Delhi Bus Station. Visitors can stay in various guesthouses, private lodges, and hotels. The museum's main aim is the collection, preservation, documentation, and exhibition of cultural property and to make it available for educational activities as well as for the creation of awareness of Meerut's history. Some postal stamps, pictures, postcards, memorial coins related to the events of 1857, and later coins are also in the collection of the museum. The museum is in the developing stages and efforts are being made to collect more specimens. The museum organises educational programs such as lectures, seminars, and competitions related to history, culture, philosophy, the freedom struggle, and religion. It also aims to coordinate with other cultural and educational organizations for disseminating Indian culture, particularly the events related to the long-drawn freedom struggle of India.
  • Shahi Jama Masjid – The Jama Masjid was built by Hasan Mahdi, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi's in 1019 AD (older than the ). It is considered the first in . Although it was restored by , it is one of the oldest mosques in India. Some believe that the first North Indian Mosque is Quwwat/Qubbat ul Islam in Delhi and then Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer.
  • St. John's Church – This church was established by Chaplain the Reverend Henry Fisher on behalf of the East India Company in 1819 in the cantonment area and was completed in 1822. It is considered one of the oldest churches in North India. The Church was dedicated to the people by Bishop Wilson. It has a of 10,000 people. During the War of 1857, this church was the scene of heavy fighting between Indian and British forces.
  • Augarnath Temple – This temple (also known as Kalipaltan Mandir locally) is located at the site where the soldiers of the War of 1857 planned their operations. The temple also houses a memorial built to honour the martyrs of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The old temple has been replaced by a modern version. Augharnath Temple is also one of Shiva's oldest temple.
Other places of interest include Mansa Devi Temple, Baleni, Basilica of Our Lady of Graces, and the Chandi Devi Temple which was built by Holkar queen .


Notable people

Indian Rebellion of 1857
  • Dhan Singh
  • , a leader of who fought against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857
    (1980). 9780521297707, Cambridge University Press. .


Films and music


Mythology


Kings and monarchs
  • Maharaja Surajmal, Meerut was under his kingdom during 18th century.


Politics
  • , Member of Parliament, for Meerut
  • Mohammed Shahid Akhlaq
  • Dr. , Former State President, BJP, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Ravindra Kumar Bhadana, politician
  • Hemlata Chaudhary, politician
  • Lakhi Ram Nagar, businessman and politician
  • , businessman and politician
  • Pyare Lal Sharma, freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Uttar Pradesh
  • Yashwant Singh
  • , Member of the Legislative Assembly for Meerut South
  • Vijaypal Singh Tomar


Sports


Scholars
  • Sir , academic and parliamentarian
  • Satish Chandra, Indian historian
  • , educationist and author
  • K. P. S. Mahalwar, legal educationist and administrator
  • Zayn al-Abidin Sajjad Meerthi, Indian Islamic scholar and historian
  • Sheikh Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Qadri Meerathi, Islamic scholar and writer
  • , scientist and MacArthur Fellowship awardee


See also
  • 2006 Meerut fire
  • Meerut Lok Sabha constituency
  • Hapur Assembly constituency
  • Kithore Assembly constituency
  • Meerut Assembly constituency
  • Meerut Cantonment Assembly constituency
  • Meerut South Assembly constituency
  • Largest Indian cities by GDP


Further reading
  • (1966). 9780521059015, Cambridge University Press.
  • (1991). 9780856282102, Aidan Ellis Publishing.


External links

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