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Amritsar district
District of Punjab
Clockwise from top-left: Harmandir Sahib, Attari-Wagah Border Crossing, Ajnala Fort, 1971 War memorial at Pul Kanjri
Location in Punjab
Coordinates: 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	Arun Pal Singh
Area
• Total	2,683 km (1,036 sq mi)
Population
• Total	2,490,656
• Density	930/km (2,400/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Punjabi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	PB-01(commercial) PB-02, PB-14, PB-17, PB-18, PB-81, PB-89
Literacy (7+)	76.27%
Website	amritsar.nic.in

Amritsar district is one of the twenty three districts that make up the Indian state of Punjab. Located in the Majha region of Punjab, the city of Amritsar is the headquarters of this district.

As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of Punjab (out of 23), after Ludhiana. It is a border district of Punjab and lies along the India-Pakistan border.

History

Sur Empire (1540 - 1554)

Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan monarch, defeated Kamran in 1540 and conquered Punjab, including Amritsar, which remained part of the Sur Empire until 1554.

1800s

The control of Amritsar was fully taken by Maharaja Ranjit Singh by 1802, after bringing all the Misls under his control. He also fortified Gobindgarh fort along modern lines.

British Rule

During British Rule Amritsar District was part of Lahore Division and was administratively subdivided into 3 tehsils namely - Amritsar, Ajnala and Tarn Taran. However, as part of the partition of India in 1947, Amritsar district was separated from the rest of the division and awarded to India. Some areas like Patti & Khem Karan falling in the Lahore District became part of Amritsar District at partition. During the partition period, the Muslim population of the district, some 46%, left for Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs from West Punjab in newly created Pakistan migrated in the opposite direction. The Sikhs and Hindus (37% and 15.38%) were a majority in the Amritsar district jointly constituting about 52% of the total population before the partition of 1947.

Climate

Amritsar has a semiarid climate, typical of Northwestern India and experiences four seasons primarily: winter season (December to March, when temperatures can drop to −1 °C (30 °F), summer season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 45 °C (113 °F), monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon season (October to November). Annual rainfall is about 703.4 millimetres (27.7 in). The lowest recorded temperature is −3.6 °C (25.5 °F), was recorded on 9 December 1996 and the highest temperature, 47.8 °C (118.0 °F), was recorded on 9 June 1995. The official weather station for the city is the civil aerodrome at Rajasansi. Weather records here date back to 15 November 1947.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Amritsar district has a population of 2,490,656, roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait or the US state of Nevada. The number of literates in Amritsar district is 1,684,770 (67.6%), with 932,981 (70.8%) male literates and 751,789 (64.1%) female literates. The effective 7+ literacy of the district is 76.27%. The sex ratio of 889 females for every 1,000 males. The total Scheduled Caste population is 770,864 (30.95%) of the population. There were 488,898 households in the district in 2011.

Gender

The table below shows the sex ratio of Amritsar district in various census years.

Religion

According to the 2011 census, Sikhs make up about 69% of the population while Hindus 28%, with a small minority of Christians (2%) and Muslims. Sikhs predominate in rural areas (over 90%), while Hindus and Sikhs are in nearly-equal numbers in urban areas. Christianity is growing rapidly especially among Dalits, while Islam, once the major religion in the district, is now insignificant.

The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Amritsar district.

Religious groups in Amritsar District (British Punjab province era)

Religious group	1901		1911		1921		1931		1941
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	474,976	46.39%	408,882	46.43%	423,724	45.59%	524,676	46.97%	657,695	46.52%
Hinduism	280,985	27.44%	211,708	24.04%	204,435	22%	174,556	15.63%	217,431	15.38%
Sikhism	264,329	25.82%	253,941	28.83%	287,004	30.88%	399,951	35.8%	510,845	36.13%
Christianity	2,078	0.2%	4,763	0.54%	12,773	1.37%	16,619	1.49%	25,973	1.84%
Jainism	1,439	0.14%	1,386	0.16%	1,375	0.15%	1,272	0.11%	1,911	0.14%
Zoroastrianism	19	0%	48	0.01%	58	0.01%	42	0%	21	0%
Judaism	2	0%	0	0%	0	0%	4	0%	0	0%
Buddhism	0	0%	0	0%	5	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Others	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Total population	1,023,828	100%	880,728	100%	929,374	100%	1,117,120	100%	1,413,876	100%
Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Religion in the Tehsils of Amritsar District (1921)

Tehsil	Hinduism		Islam		Sikhism		Christianity		Jainism		Others		Total
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Amritsar Tehsil	126,586	28.08%	195,255	43.32%	124,577	27.64%	2,961	0.66%	1,318	0.29%	63	0.01%	450,760	100%
Taran Taran Tehsil	52,332	17.77%	119,232	40.49%	120,227	40.83%	2,626	0.89%	48	0.02%	0	0%	294,465	100%
Ajnala Tehsil	25,517	13.86%	109,237	59.32%	42,200	22.92%	7,186	3.9%	9	0%	0	0%	184,149	100%
Note: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Religion in the Tehsils of Amritsar District (1941)

Tehsil	Hinduism		Islam		Sikhism		Christianity		Jainism		Others		Total
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Amritsar Tehsil	175,771	22.27%	359,025	45.49%	243,297	30.83%	8,968	1.14%	1,901	0.24%	197	0.02%	789,159	100%
Taran Taran Tehsil	26,245	6.77%	157,731	40.69%	199,562	51.48%	3,654	0.94%	10	0%	466	0.12%	387,668	100%
Ajnala Tehsil	15,415	6.5%	140,939	59.46%	67,986	28.68%	12,708	5.36%	0	0%	1	0%	237,049	100%
Note1: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. Note2: Tehsil religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labelled as "Indian Christians" on census. Does not include Anglo-Indian Christians or British Christians, who were classified under "Other" category.

Language

Languages of Amritsar district (First Language) (2011)

At the time of the 2011 census, 94.29% of the population spoke Punjabi and 4.80% Hindi as their first language. Hindi-speakers almost all live in urban areas.

Health

The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Amritsar, as of year 2020.

The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Amritsar of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years, as of year 2020.

The table below shows the current use of family planning methods by currently married women between the age of 15 and 49 years, in Amritsar district.

The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Amritsar district by year.

Economy

The table below shows the number of registered working factories and workers employed by selected manufacturing industries in Amritsar district as of 2017.

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. The Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar is Harpreet Singh Sudan appointed in 2022.
• 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 Tarn Taran District to the South along Sutlej River, Kapurthala District along the Beas River and Gurdaspur District to the North.

Tehsils in Amritsar district

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There are four tehsils in Amritsar district as per 2011 census.

5 majitha 6 lopoke at chogawan

Politics

MLA

List of DC

Notable people

• Jaspal Bhatti, a comedian and television personality
• Harpinder Singh Chawla, a dental surgeon, medical researcher and writer, known for his work in paediatric dentistry, and receiver of Padma Shri and Punjab Rattan awards
• Baldev Singh Dhillon, an agricultural scientist and vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University from 2011 to 2021
• Jawahir Singh Kapur, Sikh reformer, civil servant, author, poet, publicist, editor, leader and founder of Khalsa College.
• Khushbir Kaur, a racewalk athlete and receiver of Arjun award
• Kapil Sharma, a comedian, television host and Bollywood actor
• Arpinder Singh, a triple jump athlete
• Daljit Singh, an influential ophthalmologist, who did pioneer work and important research in his field
• Janak Raj Talwar, cardiothoracic surgeon
• Surinder Vasal, a geneticist and plant breeder, known for his contributions in developing a maize variety with higher content of usable protein
• Gurpreet Singh Wander, an influential cardiologist and academic

References

1. "Arun Pal Singh is new Amritsar City Police Commissioner". Tribune. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
2. ^ "Census of India: Amritsar district". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
3. J.C, Aggarwal. S. Chand's (Question and Answers) Medieval History of India. S. Chand Publishing. ISBN 978-81-219-1890-9.
4. "History - District Amritsar, Government of Punjab, India". amritsar.nic.in. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
5. "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 5, page 319 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
6. "Amritsar Climate Normals 1981-2010" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department, Pune. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
7. "Amritsar Climate Normals 1981-2010" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department, Pune. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
8. "Amritsar Climate Normals 1981-2010" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department, Pune. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
9. "Amritsar Climate Normals 1971–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
10. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
11. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Kuwait 2,595,62
12. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Nevada 2,700,551
13. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". data.gov.in. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
14. ^ "Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Punjab". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
15. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India - All Religions". data.gov.in. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
16. "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
17. "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
18. Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
19. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
20. "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
21. ^ India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
22. ^ "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Punjab". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
23. ^ "District Nutrition Profile - Amritsar" (PDF). NITI Ayog. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
24. "National Family Health Survey - 4 2015 -16, District Fact Sheet, Amritsar", Punjab" (PDF). rchiips.org. p. 2. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
25. "Road Accidents in Punjab". punjab.data.gov.in. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
26. "Registered Working Factories and Workers Employed". punjab.data.gov.in. Punjab Planning Department, Punjab Department of Economic and Statistical Organization. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
27. "Sh. Harpreet Singh Sudan, IAS | District Amritsar, Government of Punjab | India". amritsar.nic.in. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
28. "Electors and Polling Stations - VS 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 24 June 2021.
29. "List of Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Constituencies in the State of Punjab as determined by the delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituency notification dated 19th June, 2006". ceopunjab.nic.in. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
30. "List of Deputy Commissioners - District Amritsar, Government of Punjab, India". amritsar.nic.in. Retrieved 6 June 2023.

1. ^ 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis
2. Including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated
3. Including Anglo-Indian Christians, British Christians, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated

External links

• Amritsar

v t e Places adjacent to Amritsar district
Gurdaspur district Pakistan Amritsar district Taran Taran district Kapurthala district

v t e State of Punjab, India
Capital: Chandigarh
Topics	Demographics Economy Education History King Porus People Tourism Music
Administration	Government Legislative Assembly Chief Ministers Governors Raj Bhavan Police
Culture	Cinema Cuisine Folk dances Bhangra Giddha Aawat pauni Tipri dance (Punjab) Folklore Folk practices Sanjhi Gogaji Chhapar Mela Sakhi Sarwar Punjabi fasts Language Gurmukhi Music Bhangra Folk music Dress Salwar Punjabi ghagra suit Patiala salwar Punjabi Tamba and Kurta Phulkari Jutti Calendars Punjabi calendar Nanakshahi calendar Bikrami calendar Fairs and festivals Punjabi festivals Lohri Basant Maghi Holi Teeyan Rakhri Vaisakhi Religious festivals Hindu festivals Sikh festivals Sports Kabaddi Kabaddi in India Qila Raipur Sports Festival Punjabi kabaddi Punjabi nationalism Punjabi Suba movement Folk arts and crafts Chowk poorana Phulkari
Divisions	Patiala Rupnagar Jalandhar Faridkot Firozpur
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 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Tarn Taran Sahib
Major cities	Ludhiana Amritsar Jalandhar Patiala Bathinda Hoshiarpur Mohali Batala Pathankot Moga

• Amritsar district
• Districts of Punjab, India
• 1947 establishments in India