town, southern part of Rajasthan (Rājasthān) state, northwestern India. A walled town, it was founded in the early 16th century. Banswara is an agricultural market centre. Its principal industries include cotton ginning, flour milling, hand-weaving, and woodworking. A government college there is affiliated with the University of Rajasthan.

The area around Banswara is comparatively flat and fertile. Its principal river is the Mahi. Corn (maize), wheat, and gram (chickpeas) are the chief crops. Iron ore, lead, zinc, silver, and manganese deposits are worked.

The area constituted the princely state of Banswara, founded about 1530, of which the city of Banswara was the capital. Earlier it formed part of the original Dungarpur state. It merged with the union of Rajasthan in 1948. Pop. (2001) 85,665.