Gajendra Singh Godara
Sep 26, 2025
14
mins read
A district in India is “an administrative division of an Indian state or territory”. In practice, a district collects revenue, maintains law and order, and implements government schemes. Some districts are subdivided further into sub-divisions, tehsils or talukas. The District Collector (or Magistrate) – an IAS officer – heads the district administration. Key officials at this level also include a Superintendent of Police (IPS) for law & order and a District Judge for judicial matters. In short, a district serves as the primary hub of governance for its area.
A district (or zila) in India is the basic administrative unit. Each district has a headquarters and is headed by a District Collector or Magistrate. Districts bundle local administration, law enforcement and development functions into one region. Understanding the number and distribution of districts in India is important for governance and civil services exams.
Know about States & Capitals of India
Table of content
Current total districts in India (2025)
As of 2025, India has roughly 780–800 districts (the exact count varies with recent creations). For example, Wikipedia lists 780 districts (as of 27 March 2025). (Some sources cite higher figures around 800 or 806 due to new bifurcations.) The total is constantly changing as states carve out new districts for better administration.
State-Wise Distribution of Districts
The 28 states and 8 Union Territories vary widely in their number of districts. Most states have multiple districts; for example, Uttar Pradesh leads with 75 districts and Madhya Pradesh has 55. At the other extreme, some small states or UTs have very few – Chandigarh and Lakshadweep have only 1 district each. (Among states, Goa has 2 and Sikkim 6.) India’s federal structure means each state decides its districts, so this distribution changes over time.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of districts in India, with a total population of 199,812,341. In contrast, Goa has the fewest districts, with just two, and a population of 1,458,545.
State / Union Territory | No. of Districts |
Andhra Pradesh | 26 |
Arunachal Pradesh | 27 |
Assam | 35 |
Bihar | 38 |
Chhattisgarh | 33 |
Goa | 2 |
Gujarat | 34 |
Haryana | 22 |
Himachal Pradesh | 12 |
Jharkhand | 24 |
Karnataka | 31 |
Kerala | 14 |
Madhya Pradesh | 55 |
Maharashtra | 36 |
Manipur | 16 |
Meghalaya | 12 |
Mizoram | 11 |
Nagaland | 17 |
Odisha | 30 |
Punjab | 23 |
Rajasthan | 41 |
Sikkim | 6 |
Tamil Nadu | 38 |
Telangana | 33 |
Tripura | 8 |
Uttar Pradesh | 75 |
Uttarakhand | 13 |
West Bengal | 23 |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT) | 3 |
Chandigarh (UT) | 1 |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu (UT) | 3 |
Delhi (NCT) (UT) | 11 |
Jammu & Kashmir | 20 |
Ladakh (UT) | 7 |
Lakshadweep (UT) | 1 |
Puducherry (UT) | 4 |
As seen above, Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 75 districts, followed by Madhya Pradesh (55) and Rajasthan (41). At the bottom are tiny UTs: Chandigarh and Lakshadweep each have only 1 district. (Among states, Sikkim has the fewest with 6.)
Check out subject-specific strategies like Constitution of India for UPSC
Kutch, also spelled Kachchh, is the largest district in India, covering 45,674 km²—larger than some countries like Switzerland. It lies in Gujarat and shares borders with Pakistan and Rajasthan. Known for the vast Rann of Kutch salt marsh, this district includes 10 talukas and over 900 villages, with Bhuj as its administrative headquarters.
Mahé is the smallest district in India by area, spanning just 8.69 km². It is an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry, completely surrounded by Kerala’s North Malabar region. Despite its tiny size, Mahé is culturally rich with a distinct French colonial heritage.
North 24 Parganas in West Bengal is the most populous district, with over 10 million residents as per the latest census. This district lies in the densely inhabited Gangetic plains and plays a crucial role in the state’s economy and politics.
Dibang Valley, located in Arunachal Pradesh, is India’s least populated district, housing just about 8,000 people. It is known for its rugged terrain, dense forests, and rich biodiversity, with limited connectivity and a predominantly tribal population.
As per the Census 2011, Thane district in Maharashtra was the most populated District in India, with a population of 11,060,148. On the other hand, Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest population, with just 8,004 population. The most populous states in the country include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar.
S. No. | District | State | Population (in lakhs) |
1 | Thane | Maharashtra | 180.55 |
2 | North 24 Parganas | West Bengal | 160.9 |
3 | Bangalore | Karnataka | 126.7 |
4 | Delhi East | Delhi | 120.12 |
5 | Delhi North | Delhi | 118.34 |
6 | Mumbai Suburban | Maharashtra | 115.06 |
7 | Kolkata | West Bengal | 112.09 |
8 | Hyderabad | Telangana | 95.7 |
9 | Pune | Maharashtra | 94.27 |
10 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 87.79 |
Each district is run by a team of officials, but the District Collector / District Magistrate (DM) is the key person. The District Magistrate (often called Collector) is an IAS officer responsible for overall district administration and revenue collection. Other major district officials include the police chief and judges. Key roles are:
District Magistrate / Collector (IAS): Heads the district administration, oversees law & order and land revenue.
Superintendent of Police (IPS): In charge of police in the district and maintaining law and order.
District Judge: A senior judicial officer responsible for the administration of justice (civil and criminal trials) in the district.
These officers are supported by others such as the Deputy Conservator of Forests and district-level heads of education, health, etc. Collectively, they ensure government functions reach every village and town.
Functions: Law & Order, Revenue, Development, Disaster Management
The district administration has multiple functions:
Law & Order: The Collector works with the Superintendent of Police to keep peace and handle emergencies.
Revenue Collection: Land records and tax collection fall under the Collector’s purview. The Collector settles land disputes and collects land revenue.
Development & Welfare: District officials implement state and central schemes (e.g., MNREGA, rural development), coordinate with Panchayats, and plan local development.
Disaster Management: The Collector serves as the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (or Response Officer). They coordinate relief during floods, earthquakes, or pandemics. For example, NDMA notes that the Collector “facilitates and coordinates with local government bodies” for pre- and post-disaster measures.
In sum, the district administration touches every aspect of governance – from courts and police to schools and drought relief – making districts the workhorses of Indian administration.
New districts are usually carved out to improve administrative efficiency. States argue that smaller districts mean shorter travel for citizens and more focused governance. Governments often cite administrative convenience – for example, splitting a large district when its population or area grows too big. In practice, however, the decision lies with state governments (the Constitution gives states the sole authority to reorganize districts).
Administrative Convenience: Creating a new district can make governance more local. For instance, dense regions or hilly terrains may be split so officials can better reach remote areas. States frequently claim that a bifurcation will streamline revenue collection and policing.
Political & Demographic Reasons: Sometimes, new districts also serve political or identity demands. Officials may placate local groups by granting them their own district, even if it strains budgets. As analysts note, “administrative convenience” is often a public justification, while underlying motives may include local politics or vote-bank considerations. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (2014), state bifurcation necessitated creating many new districts.
Ultimately, district creation is a blend of practical governance needs and political strategy, all executed via state legislation or executive orders.
To make districts effective units of governance, India is moving towards technology and local empowerment. E-governance initiatives can bridge administrative gaps: For example, the Union Territory of Ladakh connected all its 193 gram panchayats through the BharatNet fibre network and is pushing for 100% digital services in government offices. Such measures help even remote villages interact with district officials online.
Equally important is people’s participation. Involving citizens in planning new districts or local development can ensure decisions meet real needs. As experts advise, governments should solicit community input when forming districts, to align new boundaries with local aspirations and prevent conflicts. In short, combining digital governance and community engagement – such as village-level planning and feedback – can make districts more responsive and transparent.
FAQs
Q. How many districts are there in India as of 2025?
A. As of 2025, India has on the order of 780–800 districts. For example, an official count (as of March 2025) is about 780.
Q. What is the role of a district in India’s administrative system?
A. A district is the basic unit of local governance, headed by a District Magistrate or Collector.
Q. Why are new districts frequently created in India?
A. New districts are usually created for administrative efficiency and better governance.
Q. Where can I find the complete list of districts in India with their names?
A. Official sources like the Census of India, state government publications or the NIC’s district directory provide up-to-date lists of all districts by state.
Conclusion
Districts are the backbone of India’s administration. From their colonial origins to the present day, they’ve evolved into dynamic units managing law, revenue and development. Today India has on the order of 800 districts, with Uttar Pradesh alone accounting for 75. For UPSC and civil services, understanding district distribution, administration, and related challenges is crucial. By studying how districts function – and how they can be improved through decentralization, e-governance and public participation – aspirants gain insight into India’s governance system as well as key exam facts.
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