town, south-central Madhya Pradesh state, central India. Founded in 1774, it is now a road and rail junction and the chief commercial centre of the east-central Satpura Range. Cloth weaving, sawmilling, oil milling, and the manufacture of shellac and lac bangles are important industries. Seoni has a hospital and several colleges affiliated with the University of Sagar. Grains, cotton, and oilseeds are the chief crops in the surrounding area, a large portion of which is forested, yielding teak, bamboo, lac, and myrobalan fruit. Pop. (2001) 89,801.