Districts of India 2026 State List, Numbers & Administration
India's 28 states and 8 Union Territories are subdivided into districts — the basic units of administration, each headed by a District Collector / District Magistrate. As of 2026, India has approximately 800+ districts, a number that keeps rising with reorganisation.
India comprises 28 states and 8 Union Territories, further subdivided into districts. These districts are the administrative divisions that facilitate governance, public administration, and the delivery of government schemes. Each is administered by a District Collector or District Magistrate. As of 2026, India has approximately 800+ districts, and the count has steadily risen over time due to administrative reorganisation and population growth.
What are Districts?
In India, a district is the administrative unit within a state or Union Territory, governed by a District Magistrate (DM) / District Collector who oversees the implementation of government policies, maintains law and order, manages revenue collection, and drives developmental initiatives. For smoother administration, districts are further divided into talukas, tehsils, or subdivisions.
Think of the country as a set of nested boxes: India → States/UTs → Districts → Sub-divisions → Tehsils/Talukas → Blocks → Villages. The district is where the government actually "touches the ground" — where schemes are delivered, elections are run, and disasters are managed. That is why the Collector is often called the "little king" of the district.
How Many Districts Does India Have in 2026?
By 2026 records, India has approximately 800+ districts. Among states, Uttar Pradesh has the most with 75 districts, followed by Madhya Pradesh (57) and Rajasthan (41); Goa has the fewest, with just 2 districts.
District numbers are highly dynamic, as states create or abolish districts frequently. A key recent example: Rajasthan reduced its districts from 50 to 41 in December 2024, after the government cancelled 9 newly created districts and 3 divisions. Similarly, Ladakh announced 5 new districts in 2024 (taking it from 2 towards 7). So always quote the total as "approximately 800+" rather than a fixed figure.
India — State-wise District List 2026
| # | State | Districts | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 75 | 19,98,12,341 |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 57 | 7,26,26,809 |
| 3 | Rajasthan | 41 | 6,85,48,437 |
| 4 | Bihar | 38 | 10,40,99,452 |
| 5 | Tamil Nadu | 38 | 7,21,47,030 |
| 6 | Maharashtra | 36 | 11,23,74,333 |
| 7 | Assam | 35 | 3,12,05,576 |
| 8 | Gujarat | 33 | 6,04,39,692 |
| 9 | Telangana | 33 | 3,50,03,674 |
| 10 | Chhattisgarh | 33 | 2,55,45,198 |
| 11 | Karnataka | 31 | 6,10,95,297 |
| 12 | West Bengal | 30 | 9,12,76,115 |
| 13 | Odisha | 30 | 4,19,74,218 |
| 14 | Andhra Pradesh | 26 | 4,95,77,103 |
| 15 | Arunachal Pradesh | 26 | 13,83,727 |
| 16 | Jharkhand | 24 | 3,29,88,134 |
| 17 | Punjab | 23 | 2,77,43,338 |
| 18 | Haryana | 22 | 2,53,51,462 |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | 17 | 1,00,86,292 |
| 20 | Manipur | 16 | 25,70,390 |
| 21 | Nagaland | 16 | 19,78,502 |
| 22 | Kerala | 14 | 3,34,06,061 |
| 23 | Himachal Pradesh | 13 | 68,64,602 |
| 24 | Meghalaya | 12 | 29,66,889 |
| 25 | Mizoram | 11 | 10,97,206 |
| 26 | Tripura | 8 | 36,73,917 |
| 27 | Sikkim | 6 | 6,10,577 |
| 28 | Goa | 2 | 14,58,545 |
Note: Rajasthan corrected to 41 districts (post-December 2024 reorganisation). District counts change frequently; verify before the exam.
Union Territory-wise District List 2026
Jammu & Kashmir has the most districts among UTs (20), while Chandigarh and Lakshadweep have just one each.
| # | Union Territory | Districts | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jammu & Kashmir | 20 | 1,22,58,093 |
| 2 | Delhi | 11 | 1,67,87,941 |
| 3 | Puducherry | 4 | 12,47,953 |
| 4 | Ladakh | 4* | 2,90,492 |
| 5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 3 | 5,86,956 |
| 6 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 3 | 3,80,581 |
| 7 | Chandigarh | 1 | 10,55,450 |
| 8 | Lakshadweep | 1 | 64,473 |
*Ladakh began with 2 districts (Leh, Kargil); 5 new districts announced in 2024 are being operationalised, which will take the total to 7.
Largest District in India — Kutch
Kutch district in Gujarat is the largest district in India by area. It shares its northern and north-western borders with Pakistan and its north-eastern boundary with Rajasthan. Covering 45,674 km², it accounts for about 23.27% of Gujarat's geographical area — larger than several small Indian states.
Smallest District in India — Mahe
Mahe (8.69 km²) is one of the four districts of the Union Territory of Puducherry. It is the smallest district in India by area — an enclave completely surrounded by the North Malabar region of Kerala.
Most Populated District in India — Thane
As per Census 2011, Thane district in Maharashtra was the most populated district in India, with about 1.1 crore people. The top districts are dominated by the big metros and their suburbs.
| # | District | State | Population (lakh, est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thane | Maharashtra | 180.55 |
| 2 | North 24 Parganas | West Bengal | 160.90 |
| 3 | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 126.70 |
| 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 | 95.70 |
| 9 | Pune | Maharashtra | 94.27 |
| 10 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 87.79 |
Figures above are provisional population estimates (2023-24). By Census 2011, Thane's population was ~1,10,60,148.
Least Populated District — Dibang Valley
Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh is the least populated district in India, with a population of just 8,004 people (Census 2011) — one of the most sparsely populated districts anywhere in the country.
The head of a district wears three roles, a legacy of the office created by Warren Hastings in 1772:
Collector — head of revenue administration (land records, revenue collection).
District Magistrate (DM) — head of law and order and executive magistracy.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) — head of development administration and coordination.
District Administration in India
District administration is the basic unit of governance, responsible for law and order, implementing policies, delivering public services, and coordinating development at the district level. The District Collector / District Magistrate is the chief administrative officer and:
- Acts as the link between the State Government and local administration.
- Maintains law and order in coordination with the police.
- Oversees the implementation of government schemes and welfare programmes.
- Manages revenue administration, including land records and tax collection.
- Conducts and supervises elections within the district.
- Coordinates disaster management, relief, and rehabilitation.
- Monitors developmental projects in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
- Works with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies for local governance.
The district is generally divided into sub-divisions, tehsils/taluks, blocks, and villages for administrative convenience, making it central to good governance and socio-economic development.
Aspirational Districts Programme (2018): Launched by NITI Aayog to rapidly transform 112 of the most backward districts on health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and infrastructure — a model of "competitive and cooperative federalism" at the district level.
Aspirational Blocks Programme (2023): Extended the same approach to 500 blocks across the country. Also relevant: District Planning Committees are constitutionally mandated under Article 243ZD.
A district is where the Constitution meets the citizen. Whatever a scheme promises in Delhi is finally delivered — or denied — at the collector's desk in the district. — Legacy IAS Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many districts are there in India in 2026?
Which state has the most and fewest districts?
Which is the largest and smallest district in India by area?
Which is the most and least populated district in India?
Who is the head of a district?
Key Takeaways
- India has ~800+ districts across 28 states and 8 UTs — a dynamic number that keeps changing with reorganisation.
- Most districts: Uttar Pradesh (75) → Madhya Pradesh (57) → Rajasthan (41). Fewest: Goa (2).
- Largest by area: Kutch, Gujarat (45,674 km²). Smallest by area: Mahe, Puducherry (8.69 km²).
- Most populated: Thane, Maharashtra (~1.1 cr, 2011). Least: Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh (8,004 people).
- The district head — Collector / DM / Deputy Commissioner — dates back to Warren Hastings (1772) and wears three hats: revenue, law & order, and development.
- Recent: Rajasthan cut 50 → 41 districts (Dec 2024); Ladakh announced 5 new districts (2024). Development links: Aspirational Districts (112) and Blocks (500) programmes.
