Last reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · Facts as of 1 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Stable vs. changing facts. The list of districts changes occasionally (a new district was created in 2021). The 2011 census numbers below are stable reference figures for exams; check the latest notification if a question mentions "recently created".
1. Administrative structure
| Level | Unit | Head |
|---|---|---|
| State | Punjab | Governor, Chief Minister |
| Division | 5 revenue divisions — Patiala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Rupnagar | Divisional Commissioner |
| District | 23 districts | Deputy Commissioner (DC) |
| Sub-division | Sub-divisions / tehsils | SDM / Tehsildar |
| Community Development Block | Blocks | BDO |
| Village | Gram panchayat | Sarpanch |
The five divisions are Patiala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Faridkot and Rupnagar. Questions on which district lies in which division should be checked from the official state list.
2. The 23 districts
| # | District | Region | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amritsar | Majha | Holy city; Golden Temple; border with Pakistan (Attari–Wagah) |
| 2 | Barnala | Malwa | Created 2006 |
| 3 | Bathinda | Malwa | Cotton belt; thermal plant; refinery |
| 4 | Faridkot | Malwa | Malwa town with a historic fort |
| 5 | Fatehgarh Sahib | Malwa | Where the younger Sahibzade were martyred (Sirhind) |
| 6 | Fazilka | Malwa | Created 2011; kinnow; border district |
| 7 | Ferozepur | Malwa | Hussainiwala memorial; Sutlej headworks |
| 8 | Gurdaspur | Majha | Basmati; Dera Baba Nanak |
| 9 | Hoshiarpur | Doaba | Highest sex ratio in 2011; Shiwalik foothills |
| 10 | Jalandhar | Doaba | Sports goods; leather; Doaba hub |
| 11 | Kapurthala | Doaba | Former princely state |
| 12 | Ludhiana | Malwa | Largest city and industrial hub; PAU |
| 13 | Malerkotla | Malwa | 23rd district (created 2021) |
| 14 | Mansa | Malwa | Lowest literacy in 2011 |
| 15 | Moga | Malwa | Malwa district |
| 16 | Pathankot | Majha | Created 2011; Madhopur headworks |
| 17 | Patiala | Malwa | Former princely capital; PEPSU capital |
| 18 | Rupnagar (Ropar) | Malwa / Poadh | Harappan site; Anandpur Sahib; Sutlej |
| 19 | SAS Nagar (Mohali) | Malwa | Highest literacy in 2011; IT hub; PCA stadium |
| 20 | Sangrur | Malwa | Birthplace of Udham Singh (Sunam) |
| 21 | Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) | Doaba | Khatkar Kalan (Bhagat Singh's ancestral village) |
| 22 | Sri Muktsar Sahib | Malwa | Battle of Muktsar (Maghi mela) |
| 23 | Tarn Taran | Majha | Created 2006; Gurdwara Tarn Taran Sahib |