Amritsar district

Amritsar district ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ
District
Location in Punjab, India
Coordinates: 31°35′N 74°59′E / 31.583°N 74.983°E / 31.583; 74.983Coordinates: 31°35′N 74°59′E / 31.583°N 74.983°E / 31.583; 74.983
Country	India
State	Punjab
Named for	Suffice of Amrit
Headquarters	Amritsar
Government
• Commissioner of Police	Sardar Jatinder Singh Aulakh IPS
Area
• Total	2,683 km2 (1,036 sq mi)
Population (2011)‡[›]
• Total	2,490,891
• Density	930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Punjabi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Literacy	76.27%
Website	amritsar.nic.in

Amritsar district (Punjabi: ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ) is one of 22 districts located in the Majha region of the state of Punjab in North India. The city of Amritsar is headquarters of this district.

As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Punjab (out of 22), after Ludhiana.^[1]

History

During British Rule Amritsar was part of Lahore Division and was administratively subdivided into 3 tehsils namely - Amritsar, and Ajnala. Tarn Taran has itself formed into a district headquarters.^[2] However, as part of the partition of India in 1947 Amritsar district was separated from the rest of the division and awarded to India. During the partition period, the Muslim population of the district, some 30%, left for Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs from West Punjab in newly created Pakistan migrated in the opposite direction.

The Sikhs were a majority in the Amritsar district constituting about 60% of the population before the partition of 1947. According to 2001 census, Sikhs make up about 77% while Hindus make 21% of the total population of the district.^[3]

The Majha Region is the Birthplace of the Sikh religion, and the Birthplace of the Sikh Misls (Sikh Confederacy).

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Amritsar district has a population of 2,490,891,^[1] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait^[4] or the US state of Nevada.^[5] This gives it a ranking of 175th in India (out of a total of 640).^[1] The district has a population density of 932 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,410/sq mi) .^[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 15.48%.^[1] Amritsar has a sex ratio of 884 females for every 1000 males,^[1] and a literacy rate of 77.2%.^[1]

District administration

• The Deputy Commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service is in charge of general administration of the district. He is generally a middle-level IAS officer of Punjab Cadre. As the District Magistrate, he also effectively the head of the police force.
• Administration of departments such as public works, health, education, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc. is headed by district officers who belong to various Punjab state services.
• The Commissioner of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service is responsible for maintaining law and order in the district. He is assisted by officers of the Punjab Police Service and other Punjab Police officials.
• The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service is responsible for the management of forests and wildlife in the district. He is assisted by officers of the Punjab Forest Service, other Punjab Forest officials and Punjab Wildlife officials.
• A Municipal corporation is responsible for the management of public works and health systems in the city of Amritsar. The municipal corporation is a democratic body of councillors and is presided over by the Mayor, who is elected by the councillors. At present, there are more than 70 councillors.

Amritsar District Borders the Pakistani Punjab Districts of Lahore, Kasur, Shiekhupura along the Ravi River Firozpur District to the South along Sutlej River, Kapurthala District along the Beas River and Gurdaspur District to the North.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amritsar district.

• Amritsar

			Gurdaspur district
	Pakistan
		Amritsar district
		Taran Taran district	Kapurthala district

State of Punjab, India
Capital: Chandigarh
Topics	Cinema Cuisine Punjabi bhathi Punjabi tandoor Sattu Culture Folk dances Aawat pauni Demographics Economy Education Folklore Punjabi folk religion Sanjhi Gugga Chhapar Mela Sakhi Sarwar Saint Punjabi fasts Bhangala History King Porus Language Gurmukhī Music Bhangra Folk music People Tourism Dress Salwar (Punjabi) Suit Punjabi ghagra Patiala salwar Punjabi Tamba and Kurta Phulkari Jutti Calendars Punjabi calendar Nanakshahi calendar Bikrami calendar Fairs and Festival of Punjab India Punjabi festivals Lohri Basant Kite Festival (Punjab) Maghi Holi, Punjab Teeyan Rakhri Vaisakhi Religious festivals Hindu Punjabi Festivals Sikh festivals Sports Kabaddi Kabaddi in India Kila Raipur Sports Festival Punjabi Kabaddi Punjabi Suba movement
Regions	Majha Malwa Doaba Powadh
Districts	SAS Nagar Sri Amritsar Barnala Bathinda Faridkot Fatehgarh Sahib Fazilka Firozpur Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur Jalandhar Kapurthala Ludhiana Mansa Moga Pathankot Patiala Sri Muktsar Sahib Rupnagar Sangrur Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar Tarn Taran Sahib
Major Cities	Ludhiana Amritsar Jalandhar Patiala Bathinda Hoshiarpur Mohali Batala Pathankot Moga