taluks

A taluk, also spelled taluka or taluq, is an administrative subdivision of a district in several South Asian countries. It functions as a local level of governance that groups together towns, villages, and rural areas within a district, and typically serves as the jurisdiction for revenue and civil administration.

In India, taluks are a common subdistrict unit in many states, though the exact name varies by region. Other terms used for similar units include tehsil and mandal. The taluk is headed by a revenue officer, commonly called a tehsildar or talukdar, who oversees land records, revenue collection, and related administrative duties. The district administration coordinates across taluks and districts to implement government programs and maintain civil registration.

The primary responsibilities of a taluk office include maintaining land and tenancy records, issuing certificates (such as birth, death, and domicile), and managing cadastral surveys. Taluks also serve as the focus for local development planning, infrastructure maintenance, and the delivery of certain public services at the village and town level. In many states, taluk offices act as a bridge between village-level panchayats and the district administration.

Across South Asia, the precise scope and naming of taluks vary by state or province. In some regions, the unit may be termed tehsil or mandal, with differences in administrative alignment and officer titles. Historically, taluks emerged from revenue and land administration systems established during colonial or earlier periods and have evolved to support contemporary governance and decentralization efforts.

See also: Tehsil, Mandal, Taluka.