The northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts, the Revenue department of which is headed by a Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Himachal Administrative Service and other Himachal state services.
District administration
A District Judge serves as the head of the Judiciary of the district. Courts subordinate to him include those of the Civil Judges, Senior Civil Judges, and Judicial Magistrates.
A Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Himachal Police Service and other Himachal Police officials.
A Deputy Conservator of Forests, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service is responsible for managing the Forests, environment and wild-life related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Himachal Forest Service and other Himachal Forest officials and Himachal Wild-Life officials.
Sectoral development is looked after by the district head of each development department such as PWD, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, etc. These officers belong to the various State Services.
List S. No. District HeadquartersEstablished Area (km2) Population (2011 census)District census: Himachal Pradesh, Census India, accessed 2025. Population density (/km2)Map 1 Bilaspur Bilaspur1954 1,167 381,956 327 2 Chamba Chamba19486,522 519,080 80 3 Hamirpur Hamirpur1972 1,118 454,768 407 4 Kangra Dharamsala1972 5,739 1,510,075 263 5 Kinnaur Reckong Peo1960 6,401 84,121 13 6 Kullu Kullu1963 5,503 437,903 80 7 Lahaul and Spiti Kyelang1960 13,835 18,564 18MandiMandi19483950999,777250 9 Shimla Shimla1972 5,131 814,010 159 10 Sirmaur Nahan1948 2,825 529,855 188 11 Solan Solan1972 1,936 580,320 300 12 Una Una1972 1,540 521,173 338
Demands for new districts
Proposals for new districts in Himachal Pradesh are primarily driven by the state's rugged mountainous terrain, which creates significant travel distances to current district headquarters. Demands focus on decentralizing administration to improve governance in extreme interior regions, as well as enhancing infrastructure, security, and law enforcement along sensitive international and interstate borders.Himachal mulls creating five new districts; plans afoot to fragment Mandi, Kangra, Hindustan Times, 2 Mar 2022.
+ List of Proposed Districts in Himachal Pradesh Grouped by Current District Proposed District Proposed HQ Border / Region Rationale for Creation Proposed from Chamba Bharmour Bharmour Borders Jammu and Kashmir (Bhaderwah). Proposed to establish a permanent administrative presence in one of India's most remote regions, near the Kishtwar border.Demand for district status to Bharmour and Pangi, Divya Himachal. Pangi Killar Borders Ladakh (Zanskar) and Jammu and Kashmir (Kishtwar/Padder). Demanded to improve governance and infrastructure in extreme terrain adjacent to sensitive union territory borders.Demand for Pangi district, Amar Ujala."Demand for Pangi as a separate district intensifies", Indian Express. Proposed from Kangra Nurpur Nurpur Borders Punjab (Pathankot) and Jammu and Kashmir (Kathua). Proposed to decentralize administration and manage interstate border requirements. Dehra Dehra Gopipur Borders Punjab (Hoshiarpur/Gurdaspur). Aimed at improving local administration and interstate coordination. Palampur Palampur Interior hilly region. Proposed to reduce travel distances for residents in the interior blocks. Jaisinghpur Jaisinghpur Interior hilly region. Sought by local bodies to improve administrative accessibility."Jaisinghpur as new district: Local bodies submit memorandum", Himachal News. Proposed from Kinnaur Reo Purgyil (Upper Kinnaur) Pooh Borders Ladakh (Kaurik/Tashigang) and China. Strategically significant area; proposed to improve border security coordination and infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control. Maathi-Baspa Rakchham Borders Ladakh (Pulam Sumda) and China. Driven by the strategic need for a dedicated administrative setup near the international border. Proposed from Kullu Manali Manali Interior hilly region. Proposed to manage the high volume of tourism and decentralized administrative needs.Demand for Manali district raised again, Dainik Bhaskar. Proposed from Lahaul and Spiti Spiti Kaza Borders Ladakh (Chumar) and China. Proposed to enhance border security and infrastructure on the sensitive international border with Tibet.Demand for making Spiti a separate district, Outlook India."Spiti residents renew demand for district status", Tribune India. Proposed from Mandi Jogindernagar Jogindernagar Interior hilly region. Demanded to decentralize administration from the Mandi district headquarters."Jogindernagar district stir gains momentum", Divya Himachal. Sundernagar Sundernagar Interior hilly region. Proposed to address the administrative requirements of a growing urban and rural population. Dharampur Dharampur Interior hilly region. Demanded by local residents to improve localized governance.Demand to make Dharampur a district, Punjab Kesari. Proposed from Shimla Rampur Rampur Bushahr Borders Uttarakhand (Yamunotri/Uttarkashi). Proposed to establish a dedicated administrative setup (Collector and SP) to manage the interior and border regions effectively.Himachal BJP leaders demand Rampur district, Hindustan Times. Mahasu Kotkhai Borders Uttarakhand (Tiuni/Chakrata). Aimed at decentralizing governance from the state capital region. Proposed from Sirmaur Paonta Sahib Paonta Sahib Borders Uttarakhand (Dehradun) and Haryana (Yamunanagar). An industrial and transit hub; proposed to improve law enforcement and revenue management on busy interstate borders."Political parties support Paonta district demand", The Times of India. Proposed from Solan Nalagarh Nalagarh / Baddi Borders Chandigarh and Haryana (Panchkula). Proposed to provide dedicated administrative and law enforcement resources to the state's primary industrial belt."Nalagarh residents demand district status for industrial belt", The Statesman. Proposed from Una East Una Amb Borders Punjab (Hoshiarpur). Proposed to manage interstate transit, law enforcement, and local administrative delivery.ETV Bharat
See also
Administrative divisions of India
References
External links