Delhi, the capital of India, is not just a city but a union territory with a complex administrative structure. Many people live in Delhi but very few know how many districts in Delhi and how they are organized?”
Delhi is officially known as National Capital Territory of Delhi. which is divided into several administrative districts to manage governance efficiently. Many people living in Delhi or preparing for competitive exams often ask: How many districts are there in Delhi?
Delhi Quick Facts Total Districts: 13 Population: 20+ million Administrative Divisions: 13 Country: IndiaHow Many Districts in Delhi?
Delhi currently has 13 districts. 3 new districts have been added in 2025 by Delhi government that is Central North Delhi, Old Delhi and Outer North Delhi. While the Shahdara district is dissolved.
Here is the list of complete 13 districts in Delhi as per 2026 guide.
- Central Delhi
- Central North Delhi
- North Delhi
- South Delhi
- East Delhi
- West Delhi
- North East Delhi
- North West Delhi
- Old Delhi
- Outer North Delhi
- South East Delhi
- South West Delhi
- New Delhi
Note : Download Delhi District List PDF
Download Delhi District List PDFDelhi District List with Headquarters 2026
| Districts In Delhi | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| South East | Defence Colony |
| Old Delhi | Chandni Chowk |
| North | Sadar Bazaar |
| New Delhi | Jamnagar House |
| Central | Daryaganj |
| Central North | Civil Lines |
| South West | Palam |
| Outer North | Rohini extension |
| North West | Kanjhawala |
| North East | Shahdara |
| East | Preet Vihar |
| South | Saket |
| West | Rajouri Garden |
Delhi District Map
List of sub-divisions in each districts in Delhi
Delhi’s 13 new revenue districts, reorganized in late 2025 and effective from January 2026, each contain specific sub-divisions (tehsils) aligned with MCD zones for better governance.
| Districts in Delhi | Sub-divisions (Tehsils) |
|---|---|
| South East | Jangpura, Kalkaji, Badarpur |
| Old Delhi | Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk |
| North | Burari, Adarsh Nagar, Badli |
| New Delhi | Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi |
| Central | Patel Nagar, Karol Bagh |
| Central North | Shakur Basti, Shalimar Bagh, Model Town |
| South West | Najafgarh, Matiyala, Dwarka, Bijwasan |
| Outer North | Mundka, Narela, Bawana |
| North West | Kirari, Nangloi Jat, Rohini |
| North East | Karawal Nagar, Gokulpuri, Yamuna Vihar, Shahdara |
| East | Gandhi Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Patparganj |
| South | Chhatarpur, Malviya Nagar, Devli, Mehrauli |
| West | Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Rajouri Garden |
This structure increases sub-divisions from 33 to 39 overall, with mini-secretariats planned in each district.
Why Delhi Has 13 Districts?
Delhi is divided into 13 districts to manage the administrative work more effectively.
Population Management
Delhi’s 13 new revenue districts were reorganized in late 2025, but official 2026 census data for population and area is not yet published as of March 2026. Estimates derive from 2011 census figures of prior districts/sub-divisions, with areas roughly preserved or split proportionally.
Here is the list of districts in Delhi with areas and Estimated Population:
| Districts in Delhi | Est. Population (2011 basis) | Est. Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|
| South East | ~8,00,000 | ~102 |
| Old Delhi | ~6,00,000 | ~25 |
| North | ~9,00,000 | ~59 |
| New Delhi | ~1,34,000 | ~35 |
| Central | ~5,80,000 | ~23 |
| Central North | ~7,00,000 | ~30 |
| South West | ~23,00,000 | ~421 |
| Outer North | ~8,00,000 | ~150 |
| North West | ~12,00,000 | ~200 |
| North East | ~20,00,000 | ~56 |
| East | ~17,00,000 | ~49 |
| South | ~15,00,000 | ~150 |
| West | ~25,00,000 | ~131 |
Totals approximate Delhi’s ~16.8M population (2011) over ~1,483 sq km; updated stats expected post-2026 census.
Administration
Delhi’s reorganization from 11 to 13 revenue districts in late 2025 aligns boundaries with MCD zones and NDMC, addressing mismatches that caused delays in services and coordination.
Key Administrative Impacts
- Streamlined Services: Mini secretariats in each district house revenue, SDM, ADM, tehsil, and sub-registrar offices, reducing citizen travel between locations for registrations, affidavits, and certificates.
- Faster Grievance Redressal: Balanced workloads across districts cut backlogs, improve complaint resolution, and enhance oversight in high-density areas.
- Improved Coordination: Syncs revenue with municipal boundaries for better urban planning, enforcement, inspections, disaster response, and land record digitization.
Resource Allocation
Sub-registrar offices increased from 22 to 39, with 272 new revenue department posts approved in early 2026. Rs 25 crore funded the initial transition, making governance more decentralized and citizen-centric.
Law and Order
Delhi Police maintains law and order across the National Capital Territory through its own structure of 15 police districts, independent of the 13 new revenue districts implemented in January 2026. This separation ensures policing remains focused on crime prevention, patrols, and response without direct impact from revenue boundary changes.
Delhi Police Structure
Delhi Police’s 15 districts include North, North East, North West, Outer, West, Rohini, Dwarka, South, South East, South West, East, New Delhi, Central, Shahdara, and Outer North Delhi, each led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
- Police Stations: Over 180 stations district-wise handle FIRs, investigations, and foot patrols.
- Special Units: PCR vans (100/112 helpline), crime branches, traffic police, and SWAT teams support district-level operations.
Coordination with Revenue Districts
Revenue reorganization aids indirect policing via better alignment for encroachments, licenses, and disaster planning, but no jurisdictional shifts occurred in police boundaries. DMs (revenue) and DCPs (police) collaborate on events, VIP security, and enforcement drives.
Revenue system
Delhi’s revenue system in the 13 new districts handles land records, property registrations, licenses, certificates (birth/death/caste), and magisterial duties like affidavits and arms licenses. Each district is led by a District Magistrate (DM) overseeing 2-4 sub-divisions (tehsils), with Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Tehsildars, and Naib-Tehsildars managing local operations.
Core Functions
- Land and Property: Maintains Jamabandi (land records), mutations, revenue collection, and Sub-Registrar Offices (now 39, up from 22) for sales deeds, mortgages, and wills.
- Citizen Services: Issues income/caste/domicile certificates, ration cards, and senior citizen cards via Mini Secretariats (one per district) as single-window hubs.
- Magisterial Duties: SDMs handle preventive orders, NDPS cases, elections, disaster relief, and enforcement of prohibitory orders under CrPC.
Post-Reorganization Changes
Sub-divisions rose from 33 to 39 for smaller workloads and faster processing; boundaries now match MCD/NDMC/Delhi Cantonment for seamless coordination on encroachments and planning. Digitized services via e-District portal reduce visits, with Rs 25 crore invested in infrastructure.
“District Wise Famous Places in Delhi”
Delhi’s 13 new revenue districts each feature notable landmarks and attractions tied to their areas. Here’s a district-wise overview of famous places based on the 2026 reorganization.
| Districts in Delhi | Famous Places |
|---|---|
| South East | Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple |
| Old Delhi | Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk |
| North | Tis Hazari Court, Kashmere Gate |
| New Delhi | India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House |
| Central | Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar |
| Central North | Pitampura TV Tower, Netaji Subhash Place |
| South West | Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park |
| Outer North | Swaminarayan Temple (Bawana area) |
| North West | Rohini Residential Complex, Gurudwara Jwala Ji |
| North East | Yamuna Sports Complex |
| East | Anand Vihar ISBT, Commonwealth Games Village |
| South | Dilli Haat, Saket Malls |
| West | Pacific Mall, Janakpuri markets |
Delhi’s reorganization into 13 revenue districts since January 2026 marks a pivotal step toward more efficient governance, better aligning administrative boundaries with municipal zones for streamlined services, reduced citizen hassles, and enhanced local development.
From the expansive South West’s rural expanses to the compact New Delhi’s iconic core, each district now boasts unique landmarks, vibrant communities, and tailored administration—empowering residents like those in Pitampura’s Central North with closer access to revenue offices and civic amenities.
This transformation promises long-term improvements in urban planning, law enforcement coordination, and everyday administration across the capital.
FAQs
Q1: How many districts in Delhi in 2026?
Answer: 13
Q2: Which is the largest district in Delhi?
Answer: South West Delhi – approximately 421 sq km
Q3: Which is the smallest district in Delhi?
Answer: New Delhi – about 35 sq km
Q4: When were new districts created in Delhi?
Answer: The reorganization was notified by the Delhi government on December 26-27, 2025, and took effect on January 1, 2026, introducing Old Delhi, Central North, and Outer North while dissolving Shahdara.
Q5: Which district is Pitampura in?
Answer: Pitampura falls under the Central North Delhi
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