Located at an elevation of about 450 metres (1,476 ft), the general slope of the district is from north to south.

Red laterite acidic soil predominates in an area that is primarily dependent upon rain-fed agriculture.

Around two-thirds of the families in the district live below poverty line.

[1] In the extreme south of the district some portions of Tandwa CD Block are part of North Karanpura Coalfield.

5 people were killed in Chatra district in 2012, but Maoist activities, such as arms training camps and organisation of ‘Jan Adalats’ (kangaroo courts) were on the decline.

[3] As of 2016, Chatra was identified as one of the 13 focus areas by the state police to check Maoist activities.

[1] Gram panchayats of Mayurhand block/ panchayat samiti are: Husia, Mayurhand, Belkhori, Karma, Manjganwa, Kadganwa Kala, Fuland, Pandni, Soki and Petaderi.

[1] According to the 2011 Census of India, Mayurhand CD block had a total population of 58,925, all of which were rural.

The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 30.76%.

Other important crops grown are bajra, maize and pulses (mainly arhar and gram).

The fund created by the Government of India is designed to redress regional imbalances in development.