[6]Ranchi was the centre of the Jharkhand movement,[7] which called for a separate state for the tribal regions of South Bihar, northern Odisha, western West Bengal and the eastern area of what is present-day Chhattisgarh.

The Jharkhand state was formed on 15 November 2000 by carving out the Bihar divisions of Chota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas.

[10] Ranchi is rapidly growing its economy, and certain parks, special economic zones and industrial areas are being developed.

[11] According to one popular tale, Thomas Wilkinson, a British captain, choose Archi (an Oraon tribal village) as headquarters.

[12][13][14] In his book The Mundas and Their Country, anthropologist Sarat Chandra Roy writes that the name of the city is derived from the Mundari word aranchi, referring to a short stick used in driving cattle,[15] whereas others have opined that aranchi refers to bi-weekly market.

[citation needed] Rici is the name for the black kite (Milvus migrans) in the Mundari language, the modern-day landmark of Ranchi city, the Pahari Mandir, is also known as Rici Buru (रिचि बुरु) — the hill of the kites[17] — and the city originated on the foothills of Rici Buru with the construction of Bada Talab by Commissioner Thomas Wilkinson at the same site.

[18] Magadha Empire exercised indirect control over the territory, which lasted until the reign of the Ashoka.

In the 4th century CE, Nagvanshi king Raja Pratap Rai chose Chutia as his capital which is now a place in Ranchi.

[12][19][20][21] With the expansion of the Mughal Empire, the sovereign status of the Nagvanshi dynasty was technically affected, but they continued to rule and administer independently.

Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo made Satranji as capital of Barkagarh estate near Subarnarekha river.

Pandey Ganpat Rai, Tikait Umrao Singh and Sheikh Bhikhari also joined the rebellion.

[35] The last ruler of the Nagvanshi dynasty was Lal Chintamani Sharan Nath Shahdeo (1931–2014).

[31] The succeeding years saw Ranchi becoming the headquarters for the Steel Authority of India Ltd and Central Coalfields Ltd.[25] The city remained the summer capital of Bihar till the creation of Jharkhand in November 2000, when Ranchi became the capital of the new state.

The city covers an area of 175 km2 (68 sq mi)[1] and its average elevation is 651 m above sea level.

Ranchi has a hilly topography and its dense tropical forests a combination that produces a relatively moderate climate compared to the rest of the state.

December and January are the coolest months, with temperatures dipping to the freezing point in some areas (Kanke).

Owing to the rising employment opportunities and opening of numerous regional and state level offices, banks and FMCG companies, the city witnessed a rapid influx of employment seeking migrants.

As per a study done by ASSOCHAM in late 2010, Ranchi was one of the highest employment generating Tier-III cities in India with a share of 16.8%, followed by Mangalore and Mysore.

[54] The 2018 municipal election was the first time the mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates in Jharkhand could use political party symbols, while the candidates for councilor seats continued to use symbols allotted to them by the Jharkhand State Election Commission.

Sanjay Seth won the seat in the 2019 General Election and represents this constituency at the Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament.

[59] The various infrastructure and civic services demands of the city are met by different entities, including Ranchi Municipal Corporation, state government departments, and parastatal organisations.

SAIL-R&D, MECON.Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (Marine Diesel Engine Project), Central Coalfields, CMPDI.Ltd, Subarnarekha Hydel Project (JSEB), Usha Martin.Ltd (Wire Rope Division),[66] DVC, STPI-Ranchi,[67] Heavy Engineering Corp., Palriwal Industries, Pensol India, Waxpol Industries, Jharkhand Mega Food Park etc.

As per a study done by ASSOCHAM in late 2010, Ranchi was the highest employment generating Tier-III cities in India followed by Mangalore and Mysore.

There are many other upcoming shopping malls and commercial projects Ranchi is a center for numerous sports activities, including cricket, hockey, football, and many others.

A tennis academy, which was inaugurated by Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik, also runs beside the cricket stadium.