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List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir

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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]

History

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Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir

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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

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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

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Districts of Jammu and Kashmir
District map of Jammu and Kashmir in 2025, also showing territories of the former Jammu and Kashmir controlled by other countries:
A. Muzaffarabad
B. Poonch (western portion)
C. 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.

Districts of Jammu and Kashmir released by Government of India but 1.Muzaffarabad 2.Poonch (western portion) & 3.Mirpur are administered by Government of Pakistan

Administration

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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

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Jammu Division

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Sl no. District Headquarters Established[9] Subdivisions Area[10] Population As of 2011[10] Population density Map
1 Doda Doda 1948
  • Assar
  • Thathri
  • Gandoh[11]
 2,625 km2 (1,014 sq mi)[12] 409,576 156/km2 (400/sq mi)
2 Jammu Jammu Before 1947
  • ACR Jammu
  • Jammu South
  • Jammu North
  • R.S. Pura
  • Marh
  • Akhnoor
  • Chowki Choura
  • Khour[13]
 2,342 km2 (904 sq mi)[14] 1,526,406 652/km2 (1,690/sq mi)
3 Kathua Kathua 1963
  • Basholi
  • Bilawar/Badnota
  • Hiranagar
  • Bani[15]
 2,502 km2 (966 sq mi)[16] 615,711 246/km2 (640/sq mi)
4 Kishtwar Kishtwar 2007
  • Chatroo
  • Marwah
  • Paddar[17]
 7,737 km2 (2,987 sq mi)[18] 231,037 30/km2 (78/sq mi)
5 Poonch Poonch 1947
  • Mendhar
  • Surankote[19]
 1,674 km2 (646 sq mi)[20] 476,820 285/km2 (740/sq mi)
6 Rajouri Rajouri 1967[21]
  • Nowshera
  • Sunderbani
  • Kalakote
  • Kotranka
  • Thanamandi[22]
 2,630 km2 (1,020 sq mi)[23] 619,266 235/km2 (610/sq mi)
7 Ramban Ramban 2007
  • Banihal
  • Ramsoo
  • Gool[24]
 1,329 km2 (513 sq mi)[25] 283,313 213/km2 (550/sq mi)
8 Reasi Reasi 2007
  • Mahore
  • Dharmari
  • Katra[26]
 1,719 km2 (664 sq mi)[27] 314,714 183/km2 (470/sq mi)
9 Samba Samba 2007
  • Vijaypur
  • Ghagwal[28]
 904 km2 (349 sq mi)[29] 318,611 353/km2 (910/sq mi)
10 Udhampur Udhampur 1931
  • Dudu
  • Basantgarh
  • Chenani
  • Ramnagar[30]
 2,637 km2 (1,018 sq mi)[31] 555,357 211/km2 (550/sq mi)
— Total Jammu 37 26,293 km2 (10,152 sq mi) 5,350,811 204/km2 (530/sq mi)

Kashmir Division

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Sl no. District Headquarters Established[9] Subdivisions Area Population As of 2011[10] Population density Map
1 Anantnag Anantnag Before 1947[32] 3,574 km2 (1,380 sq mi)[36] 1,070,144 299/km2 (770/sq mi)
2 Bandipore Bandipore 2007 345 km2 (133 sq mi)[38] 385,099 1,116/km2 (2,890/sq mi)
3 Baramulla Baramulla Before 1947
  • Sopore
  • Uri
  • Pattan
  • Gulmarg[39]
 4,243 km2 (1,638 sq mi)[40] 1,015,503 239/km2 (620/sq mi)
4 Budgam Budgam 1979[41]
  • Beerwah
  • Chadoora
  • Khansahib[42]
 1,361 km2 (525 sq mi)[43] 735,753 541/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
5 Ganderbal Ganderbal 2007 1,045 km2 (403 sq mi)[45] 297,003 284/km2 (740/sq mi)
6 Kulgam Kulgam 2007[46] 410 km2 (160 sq mi)[48] 422,786 1,031/km2 (2,670/sq mi)
7 Kupwara Kupwara 1979[49] 2,379 km2 (919 sq mi)[51] 875,564 368/km2 (950/sq mi)
8 Pulwama Pulwama 1979[52] 1,086 km2 (419 sq mi)[54] 570,060 525/km2 (1,360/sq mi)
9 Shopian Shopian 2007[55] 312 km2 (120 sq mi)[57] 265,960 852/km2 (2,210/sq mi)
10 Srinagar Srinagar Before 1947
  • Srinagar ACR
  • Srinagar East
  • Srinagar West[58]
 1,978.95 km2 (764.08 sq mi)[59] 1,269,751 642/km2 (1,660/sq mi)
— Total Srinagar 22 15,948 km2 (6,158 sq mi) 6,907,623 433/km2 (1,120/sq mi)

Demands for administrative reorganization

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Statehood and Union Territory demands

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There are active political and social movements proposing the carving out of new states and union territories from the current administrative boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir.

List of Proposed States and Union Territories
Proposed Status Proposed Entity Expected Area of Jurisdiction Rationale for Creation
Statehood Demands
State Jammu State The entirety of the current Jammu Division. Proposed by various regional political groups, such as IkkJutt Jammu, seeking separate statehood for the Jammu region to ensure regional political autonomy.[60][61]
Union Territory Demands
Union Territory Panun Kashmir Designated areas within the Kashmir Valley. Meaning "our own Kashmir," this is a proposed union territory intended to serve as a homeland for Kashmiri Hindus. The demand originated following the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in 1990.[62][63][64][65][66]

Demands for new districts

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Political representatives and local groups have frequently advocated for the creation of additional districts in the Jammu division, citing its significantly larger geographical area compared to the Kashmir division, despite both regions currently maintaining 10 districts each.[67]

List of Proposed Districts Grouped by Current District
Proposed District Proposed HQ References
Proposed from Doda
Bhaderwah Bhaderwah [68][69]
Thathri Thathri [70][68][69]
Proposed from Kishtwar
Marwah Marwah
Proposed from Kathua
Billawar Billawar
Proposed from Jammu
Akhnoor Akhnoor
Proposed from Rajouri
Nowshera Nowshera [71]

See also

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References

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  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 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. ↑ "Sub-District and Sub-Divisions of Doda". District Doda. District Administration Doda, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  12. ↑ District Census Handbook Doda, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 12, 99. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Sub-Divisions of Jammu". District Jammu. District Administration Jammu, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  14. ↑ District Census Handbook Jammu, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 13, 51, 116. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Subdivision of Kathua". District Kathua, Government of Jammu & Kashmir. District Administration Kathua. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  16. ↑ District Census Handbook Kathua (PDF). Census of India 2011, Part A (Report). 18 June 2014. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Kishtwar". District Kishtwar. District Administration Kishtwar, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  18. ↑ District Census Handbook Kishtwar, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 10, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Poonch". District Poonch. District Administration Poonch, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  20. ↑ District Census Handbook Punch, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 99. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "About District Rajouri". District Rajouri. District Administration Rajouri, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Sub Division of Rajouri". District Rajouri. District Administration Rajouri, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  23. ↑ District Census Handbook Rajouri, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 11, 107. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Ramban". District Ramban. District Administration Ramban, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  25. ↑ District Census Handbook Ramban, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 10, 12. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Reasi". District Reasi. District Administration Reasi, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  27. ↑ District Census Handbook Reasi, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 37, 88. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Sub Divisions of Samba". District Samba. District Administration Samba, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  29. ↑ District Census Handbook Samba, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 18 June 2014. pp. 9, 34, 36, 100. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Udhampur". District Udhampur. District Administration Udhampur, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  31. ↑ District Census Handbook Udhampur (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  32. ↑ "History". District Anantnag. District Administration Anantnag, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Organisation Chart". District Anantnag. District Administration Anantnag, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Sub-Divisions of Anantnag". District Anantnag. District Administration Anantnag, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Administration Setup". District Anantnag. District Administration Anantnag, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Bandipora". District Bandipora. District Administration Bandipora, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  38. ↑ 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.
  39. ↑ "Sub-Divisions of Baramulla". District Baramulla. District Administration Baramulla, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  40. ↑ 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.
  41. ↑ "About District". District Budgam. District Administration Budgam, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Budgam". District Budgam. District Administration Budgam, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  43. ↑ 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).
  44. ↑ "Subdivision and Tehsils of Ganderbal". District Ganderbal. District Administration Ganderbal, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  45. ↑ "Ganderbal District Development Plan" (PDF). Jammu and Kashmir Directorate of Information and Public Relations. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  46. 1 2 "About District". District Kulgam. District Administration Kulgam, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  47. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Kulgam". District Kulgam. District Administration Kulgam, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  48. ↑ 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.
  49. ↑ "About District". District Kupwara. District Administration Kupwara, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  50. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Kupwara". District Kupwara. District Administration Kupwara, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  51. ↑ 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.
  52. ↑ "History". District Pulwama. District Administration Pulwama, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  53. ↑ "Administrative Setup". District Pulwama. District Administration Pulwama, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  54. ↑ District Census Handbook Pulwama, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 12, 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  55. ↑ "History". District Shopian. District Administration Shopian, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  56. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks of Shopian". District Shopian. District Administration Shopian, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  57. ↑ 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.
  58. ↑ "Sub-Divisions of Srinagar". District Srinagar. District Administration Srinagar, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  59. ↑ 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.
  60. ↑ "IkkJutt Jammu blows the bugle, begins Separate Jammu State Yatra". Firemedia TV. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  61. ↑ Excelsior, Daily (12 February 2023). "IJ starts Yatra for separate Jammu State". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  62. ↑ Excelsior, Daily (9 January 2017). "Involve 'Panun Kashmir' in talks on return of KPs: Ambardar". Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  63. ↑ Wirsing, Robert (2003). Kashmir in the Shadow of War: Regional Rivalries in a Nuclear Age. M.E. Sharpe. p. 149. ISBN 9780765610898.
  64. ↑ 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.
  65. ↑ "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.
  66. ↑ "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.
  67. ↑ BJP wants creation of new districts, PDP says no need, The Kashmir Monitor, 2 Apr 2018.
  68. 1 2 "Create Bhaderwah, Thathri two districts: Rao". Daily Excelsior. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  69. 1 2 "J&K administration declines immediate creation of Thathri and Bhaderwah districts". Scoop News. 11 March 2025.
  70. ↑ Ayoob, Anzer (7 September 2020). "Why Thathri needs district status?". The Chenab Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  71. ↑ Masoodi, Nazir; Chatterjee, Debjani (25 March 2018). "Demand For Separate District, Over 30 Injured In Clashes In Nowshera". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 19 September 2025.

Bibliography

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