Taluk

Taluk, also spelled taluka or taluq, is an administrative subdivision used in several South Asian countries, most prominently in India. It lies between the district and the village level and is used for revenue administration, land records, and local governance. The exact size and population of a taluk vary, and its boundaries may encompass one or more towns as well as rural areas.

A taluk typically contains multiple villages and may include one or more municipalities or panchayats. It serves as a convenient unit for administering land revenue, civil registrations, and implementation of certain government schemes at the local level.

The taluk is headed by a tehsildar or tahsildar, who is responsible for revenue collection, maintenance of land records, and coordination of development activities within the taluk. The taluk office houses revenue staff and may collaborate with police, forest, and municipal authorities to deliver services, issue certificates, and process land transactions.

Across India, the exact terminology and structure vary by state. The unit is commonly known as taluk or taluka in many southern and western states, tehsil in several northern and central states, and mandal in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Despite naming differences, the taluk functions as a key administrative layer between the district and the local village or town administration.

Overall, taluks play a central role in revenue administration, land records, and local governance, contributing to targeted service delivery and development planning at the regional level.