The Uttarakhand state of India, in Himalayas mountain range, has 13 districts.
In November 2000 when Uttarakhand was created as a new state from the larger Uttar Pradesh state, it had inherited 13 districts. Since then, no new districts have been created even though other newly created states have almost doubled the number of new districts for rapid development.
A district of Uttarakhand state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a District Magistrate (earlier called District Collector), an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrates are assisted by a number of officers such as deputy collector, assistant collector, additional district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate, tehsildar, naib tehsildar belonging to the Uttarakhand Civil Service and other Uttarakhand state services.
A Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service, heads the police in the district and is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues. He is assisted by the officers of the Uttarakhand Police Service.
A Deputy Conservator of Forests, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is responsible for managing the Forests, environment and wild-life related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Uttarakhand Forest Service and other Uttarakhand forest officials and Uttarakhand wildlife officials.
Sectoral development is looked after by the district head of each development department such as Public works, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, etc. These officers belong to the various Uttarakhand state services.