List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir

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Districts of Jammu and Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir Districts (2019).svg
Districts of Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir consists of two divisions: Jammu Division and Kashmir Division, and is further divided into 20 districts: [1]

Contents

History

Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir

Prior to 1947, Kashmir was a princely state under the paramountcy of the British Indian Empire. The central part of the princely state was administratively divided into the provinces Jammu and Kashmir. In addition there were frontier districts and semi-autonomous jagirs (principalities). They were subdivided as follows: [2]

The Gilgit district and the frontier ilaqas were administered by the British administration as the Gilgit Agency, which were returned to the princely state prior to the Partition of India.

Partition

After the partition of India and subsequent independence of India and Pakistan, in October 1947, following a rebellion coupled with a tribal invasion from newly independent Pakistan, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in return for armed assistance. India and Pakistan fought the First Kashmir War that lasted through 1948, at the end of which large parts of the three western districts of Mirpur, Poonch and Muzaffarabad, the whole of the Gilgit Agency and the Skardu sub-district of Ladakh came under Pakistani control. The remainder of the princely state had been organised as a state of India under the name Jammu and Kashmir.

Inside India

District map of Jammu and Kashmir in 2015, also showing territories of the former Jammu and Kashmir controlled by other countries:
A. Gilgit
B. Aksai Chin
C. Gilgit Wazarat
D. Chilas
E. Tribal territory
F. Muzaffarabad
G. Punch (western portion)
H. Mirpur Jammu & Kashmir Distrikte.svg
District map of Jammu and Kashmir in 2015, also showing territories of the former Jammu and Kashmir controlled by other countries:
A. Gilgit
B. Aksai Chin
C. Gilgit Wazarat
D. Chilas
E. Tribal territory
F. Muzaffarabad
G. Punch (western portion)
H. Mirpur

The territory under Indian control include: [3] [4]

The districts were reorganised by 1968, breaking up some of the larger districts. [6] In 2006, eight new districts were created: Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian. [7]

In August 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed by both houses of the Indian Parliament. The provisions contained in the bill reorganised the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories; Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) and Ladakh with effect from 31 October 2019.

Administration

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) is the head of the district administration. They are responsible for overall administration and development activities in the district. The DC functions as District Magistrate (DM) for maintenance of law and order and as Collector for revenue administration. In the capacity of Collector, the DC oversees revenue administration, managing tasks such as revenue collection, land records maintenance, and implementation of government fiscal policies. The DC is usually an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. The Deputy commissioner is assisted by Additional Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Sub-divisional magistrates. The districts are further divided into sub-districts and tehsils. [8]

Districts

Jammu Division

Name Region claimed by India HeadquartersBefore 2007 [9] After 2007Population
2011 Census [10]
Population
2011 Census [10]
Area
(km2)
Area
(km2)
Area
(sq miles)
Kathua district
Kathua.png
Kathua 2,6512,502966 [11] 550,084615,711
Jammu district
Jammu dis.png
Jammu 3,0972,342904 [12] 1,343,7561,526,406
Samba district
Samba J&K.png
Samba new district904349 [13] 245,016318,611
Udhampur district
Udhampur J&K.png
Udhampur 4,5502,367914 [14] 475,068555,357
Reasi district
Reasi.png
Reasi new district1,719664 [15] 268,441314,714
Rajouri district
Rajouri district.png
Rajouri 2,6302,6301,015 [16] 483,284619,266
Poonch district
Poonch.png
Poonch 1,6741,674646 [17] 372,613476,820
Doda district
Doda district.png
Doda 11,6912,6251,014 [18] 320,256409,576
Ramban district
Ramban district.png
Ramban new district1,329513 [19] 180,830283,313
Kishtwar district
Kishtwar district.png
Kishtwar new district7,7372,987 [20] 190,843231,037
Total for division Jammu 26,29326,29310,1524,430,1915,350,811

Kashmir Division

NameHeadquartersBefore 2007 [9] After 2007Population
2011 Census [10]
Population
2011 Census [10]
Area
(km2)
Area
(km2)
Area
(sq miles)
Anantnag district Anantnag 3,9843,5741,380 [21] 778,4081,070,144
Kulgam district Kulgam new district410158 [22] 394,026422,786
Pulwama district Pulwama 1,3981,086419 [23] 441,275570,060
Shopian district Shopian new district312120 [24] 211,332265,960
Budgam district Budgam 1,3711,361525 [25] 607,181735,753
Srinagar district Srinagar 2,2281,979764 [26] 1,027,6701,269,751
Ganderbal district Ganderbal new district1,045403 [27] 217,907297,003
Bandipore district Bandipore new district345133 [28] 304,886385,099
Baramulla district Baramulla 4,5884,2431,638 [29] 843,8921,015,503
Kupwara district Kupwara 2,3792,379919 [30] 650,393875,564
Total for division Srinagar 15,94815,9486,1585,476,9706,907,623

New demands

New state

New union territory

Demand for new divisions

Demand for new districts

Jammu division

In 2018, BJP repeated it's old demand of creating 4 to 5 new districts in Jammu division which has 70% more area than Kashmir Division yet presently both have same number of districts, 10 each. [42]

Kashmir Division

See also

References

  1. "Department of Jammu & Kashmir Affairs". Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008.
  2. Karim, Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers 2013, p. 31.
  3. Karim, Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers 2013, p. 29–32.
  4. Behera, Demystifying Kashmir 2007, p. 15.
  5. 1 2 Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris 2015, p. 167.
  6. Behera, Demystifying Kashmir 2007, p. 28.
  7. Jammu and Kashmir to have eight new districts, Indo-Asian News Service, 6 July 2006.
  8. "Department Of Revenue". jkrevenue.nic.in. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Divisions & Districts", Jamu & Kashmir Official Portal, 2012, retrieved 21 November 2020
  10. 1 2 3 4 Census of India 2011, Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011 : Jammu & Kashmir. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (Report).
    Annexure V, Ranking of Districts by Population Size, 2001 - 2011 (Report).
  11. District Census Handbook Kathua (PDF). Census of India 2011, Part A (Report). 18 June 2014. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  12. District Census Handbook Jammu, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 13, 51, 116. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Jammu, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 13, 24. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  13. District Census Handbook Samba, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 34, 36, 100. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Samba, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 10, 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  14. District Census Handbook Udhampur (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  15. District Census Handbook Reasi, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 37, 88. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Reasi, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 9, 13, 24. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  16. District Census Handbook Rajouri, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 11, 107. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Rajouri, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 9, 10, 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  17. District Census Handbook Punch, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 99. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Punch, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 11, 13, 24. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  18. District Census Handbook Doda, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 12, 99. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. District Census Handbook Ramban, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 10, 12. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. District Census Handbook Kishtwar, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 10, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  21. District Census Handbook Anantnag, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. p. 9. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Anantnag, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  22. District Census Handbook Kulgam, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Kulgam, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    Part B page 12 says the area of the district is 404 sq km, but page 22 says 410 sq km.
  23. District Census Handbook Pulwama, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  24. District Census Handbook Shupiyan, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Shupiyan, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    Part B pages 12 and 22 say the district area is 312.00 sq km, but Part A page 10 says 307.42 sq km.
  25. District Census Handbook Badgam, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. pp. 10, 46. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Badgam, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 11, 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    Part A says the district area is 1371 sq km, Part B says 1371 sq km (page 11) and 1361 sq km (page 12s and 22).
  26. District Census Handbook Srinagar, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. pp. 11, 48. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    Part A page 48 says the district area was 2228.0 sq km in 2001 and 1978.95 sq km in 2011.
  27. "Ganderbal District Development Plan" (PDF). Jammu and Kashmir Directorate of Information and Public Relations. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  28. District Census Handbook Bandipora, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. pp. 10, 47. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Bandipora, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 11, 20. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  29. District Census Handbook Baramulla, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Baramulla, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. p. 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  30. District Census Handbook Kupwara, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
    District Census Handbook Kupwara, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 11, 12. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  31. "IkkJutt Jammu blows the bugle, begins Separate Jammu State Yatra". Firemedia TV. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  32. Excelsior, Daily (12 February 2023). "IJ starts Yatra for separate Jammu State". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  33. Excelsior, Daily (9 January 2017). "Involve 'Panun Kashmir' in talks on return of KPs: Ambardar" . Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  34. Wirsing, Robert (2003). Kashmir in the Shadow of War: Regional Rivalries in a Nuclear Age. M.E. Sharpe. p. 149. ISBN   9780765610898.
  35. PTI, (Press Trust of India) (28 July 2019). "Carve out separate state within India for Kashmiri Pandits along Jhelum river: Panun Kashmir". India Today . Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  36. "700 eminent Kashmiri Pandits support Centre's decision on Article 370: Panun Kashmir". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  37. "Post 370, Kashmiri Hindus wait to return to their homes". The Sunday Guardian Live. 19 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  38. 1 2 "Separate division for Ladakh: Omar promises two more for Chenab valley, Pir Panjal if voted to power." (The Times of India, February 8, 2019).
  39. "The fate of Chenab Valley’s Plea for Divisional Status, Hill Council." (Kashmir Images, September 8, 2024).
  40. "Chenab Valley (Jammu Division)." (Wikipedia, accessed August 8, 2025).
  41. "Pir Panjal Region (Jammu Division)." (Wikipedia, accessed August 8, 2025).
  42. BJP wants creation of new districts, PDP says no need, The Kashmir Monitor, 2 Apr 2018.
  43. 1 2 Excelsior, Daily (15 January 2025). "Create Bhaderwah, Thathri two districts: Rao". Daily Excelsior . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  44. Ayoob, Anzer (7 September 2020). "Why Thathri needs district status?". The Chenab Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  45. "J&K administration declines immediate creation of Thathri and Bhaderwah districts". Scoop News. 11 March 2025.

Bibliography