List of districts in West Bengal facts for kids
West Bengal is a state in India, located in the eastern part of the country. To its north are the mighty Himalayas, and to its south is the Bay of Bengal. The famous Ganga River flows through the state towards the east. A major branch of the Ganga, called the Hooghly River, flows south and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
West Bengal has many different types of land, from the hills of Darjeeling Himalayan hill region to the flat plains and the unique Sunderbans mangrove forests. The Siliguri Corridor, often called the "Chicken's Neck," is a narrow strip of land in North Bengal that connects North-East India to the rest of the country.
When India became independent in 1947, West Bengal was formed with 14 districts. This happened as part of the partition plan of the old Bengal province under British rule. Later, more areas joined the state. For example, the princely state of Koch Bihar became a district in 1950, and the French area of Chandannagore joined Hooghly district in 1954. In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act added Purulia district and made West Dinajpur district bigger. Over time, some large districts like West Dinajpur, 24 Parganas, and Midnapore were split into smaller ones.
Today, West Bengal has 23 districts. Some of the newer districts include Jhargram district, Alipurduar district, Kalimpong district, and Paschim Bardhaman district. These districts are grouped into five larger areas called divisions, each managed by a Divisional Commissioner. Kolkata, the state's capital city, is its own district. Other districts are further divided into smaller parts like subdivisions and blocks, which help manage the state smoothly.
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How West Bengal is Governed
Each district in West Bengal is led by a top officer called a District Magistrate (DM). The DM is a highly ranked government official, either from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS). They are chosen by the state government.
Except for Kolkata, every district is divided into smaller areas called subdivisions. A Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) manages each subdivision. These subdivisions contain towns with their own municipalities and also 'community development blocks' (or CD blocks).
A block includes both small towns (called census towns) and rural areas with groups of villages called gram panchayats. A Block Development Officer (BDO) is in charge of each block.
Local Village Government (Panchayati Raj)
West Bengal has a special system for local government called the Panchayati Raj, which has three levels:
- Gram Panchayat: This is the smallest unit, managing a group of villages. It's led by a Pradhan.
- Panchayat Samiti: This is the next level, at the block. Its members include the Pradhans from the villages in that block and the MLAs (elected representatives) from the block. A Panchayat Samiti is led by a Sabhadhipati.
- Zilla Parishad: This is the highest level, at the district. Its members include the Sabhadhipatis from the Panchayat Samitis and the MLA's from the district. A Zilla Parishad is led by a Sabhadhipati.
For the Darjeeling district, the Zilla Parishad works a bit differently. There's a similar organization for the Siliguri subdivision called a Mahakuma Parishad.
Gorkha Hill Council
The Gorkha Hill Council, created in 1988, helps manage three subdivisions of the Darjeeling district: Darjeeling Sadar, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. This council looks after many important areas like public health, education, public works, transport, tourism, and agriculture. The main district administration in Darjeeling still handles things like elections, law and order, and taxes, and works with the Council and the state government.
Police and Courts
The police force in each district is led by a Superintendent of Police (SP), who is an officer from the Indian Police Service. Each subdivision has its own police force, led by an Assistant or Deputy Superintendent of Police. Below them are Police Circles, each with an Inspector, and then Police Stations, which are the smallest units.
The highest court for West Bengal is the Calcutta High Court. While most districts have their own courts, not every subdivision has a court.
Divisions of West Bengal
West Bengal's 23 districts are grouped into five divisions, each overseen by a Divisional Commissioner:
| Malda division | Burdwan division | Jalpaiguri division | Presidency division | Medinipur division |
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Images for kids
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Alipurduar District
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Bankura District
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Bardhaman District
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Birbhum District
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Cooch Behar District
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Darjeeling District
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Purba Medinipur District
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Hooghly District
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Howrah District
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Jalpaiguri District
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Kolkata District
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Malda District
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Murshidabad District
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Nadia District
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North 24 Parganas District
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Uttar Dinajpur District
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Purulia District
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South 24 Parganas District
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Dakshin Dinajpur District
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West Midnapore District
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Map of West Bengal
