Overview

The Pulwama district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It is located to the south of Srinagar. Its district headquarters are situated in the city of Pulwama. It is located in the central part of the Kashmir Valley. == Administration == In 1979 Anantnag district split in two, with one part remaining as Anantnag district, and the other part becoming Pulwama district. When created, Pulwama district had 550 villages, grouped in five subdistricts (tehsils): Shopian, Awantipora, Pampore, Pulwama, and Tral. After Shopian district was created in 2007, Pulwama district had 331 villages and four subdistricts. According to the district administration, the area of the district is 420 square miles (1,090 km2). Pulwama district currently has eight subdistricts, with 327 villages (eight of which are uninhabited): === Tehsils === The Pulwama district contains eight tehsils: Awantipora Tehsil Pampore Tehsil Pulwama Tehsil Tral Tehsil Rajpora Tehsil Aripal Tehsil Shahoora (Litter) Tehsil KakaporaTehsil This district consists of five development blocks: Tral, Keller, Pampore, Pulwama and Kakapora. Each block consists of a number of panchayats. === District Development Council === Chairperson: Syed Abdul Bari Andrabi (JKPDP) Vice-chairperson: Mukhtar Ahmad Bandh (JKNC) == Demographics == According to the 2011 census Pulwama district has a population of 560,440, roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands or the US state of Wyoming. This gives it a ranking of 537th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 598 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,550/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 29.18%. Pulwama has a sex ratio of 912 females for every 1000 males (though this varies with religion), and is lower than the national average of 940, and a literacy rate of 64.3%. At the time of the 2011 census, 91.30% of the population spoke Kashmiri, 3.96% Gojri, 1.38% Punjabi and 1.25% Hindi as their first language. == Healthcare == District has got one of the best health care system in The State/Union Territory. District has 1 DNB Deemed District Hospital Pulwama, 3 Sub-District Hospitals and numerous other health institutions. One tertiary Healthcare institute is under construction in Awantipora Tehsil of the district. It will be the largest hospital in Kashmir province/division. == Pencil District == The district is widely recognised as the leading producer of slates in the country. Approximately 70 per cent of the slate production in India originates from this district and is subsequently supplied to various pencil manufacturing companies. This distinctive characteristic has earned Pulwama the reputation of being the primary hub for slate production, making a significant contribution to the pencil industry. The village of Oukhoo in Pulwama district has been bestowed with the title of 'Pencil Village' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his "Mann ki Baat" address. == Transport == District Pulwama is well connected with various transport modes. National Highway 44 and National Highway 444 pass through Pulwama District. There are 4 railways stations and 1 halt station located in the district. The district railway Headquarter is located at Awantipora Railway Station. == Educational institutions == Some of the notable educational institutions of Pulwama district: AIIMS Awantipora Boys Government Degree College, Pulwama Islamic University, Awantipora Women's College, Pulwama Paramount Institute of Education Govt. GNM Nursing College, Pulwama Phoenix Paramedical College, Pulwama Dolphin Paramedical College, Pulwama == Kashmir's First Synthetic hockey turf == Pulwama district in the southern Kashmir valley has achieved a significant milestone with the installation of the first synthetic hockey turf in the entire valley. This state-of-the-art stadium has been constructed to meet the growing demand for hockey facilities in the Kashmir division. The stadium has been constructed at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Pulwama, with an investment of Rs 5 crore, as part of the sports facilities enhancement plan by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative aims to improve the sporting infrastructure in the region and provide better opportunities for athletes to excel in their respective disciplines. == Anand of Kashmir == The district stands out in milk production, and is the top milk producing district in Jammu and Kashmir, which has earned it the nickname "Anand of Kashmir". According to official data, Pulwama recorded milk production of 31 crore litres in 2020, which was distributed throughout Jammu and Kashmir. In the year 2017-18, Pulwama produced 28.04 crore litres of milk. On a daily basis, Pulwama currently produces 8.5 lakh litres of milk. == Land use == The "reporting area" is the area for which data on land use classification are available. When Pulwama district was created in 1979 it had a "reporting area" of 380 square miles (980 km2). After the creation of Shopian district in 2007, the "reporting area" of Pulwama district was reduced to 240 square miles (610 km2). == See also == Anantnag district Kulgam district Shopian district Budgam district == References == == External links == Official website