India is a vast country, spreading over 3.29 million square kilometers. It has 28 states and 8 union territories as administrative units (level 2). The states are further divided into smaller administrative units (Third Level Administrative Units), called Districts. At present there are over 780 districts in India (2025). However, the Survey of India (SOI) provided include 742 districts in India.

Key Facts and Figures

• According to the 2011 Census of India, there were 640 districts in the country, up from 593 in 2001. However, the updated SOI shapefile has 742 districts.
• Districts are further divided into sub-divisions, tehsils/taluks, and community blocks
• The largest district by area is Kutch (Gujarat), whereas the smallest district by area is Mahe.
• The most populous district is North 24 Parganas (West Bengal), whereas the least populous district is Dibang Valley (Assam).
• Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of districts in India, and smaller states like Goa have very few districts (only 2).

Download SOI Outline Boundary Shapefile

Survey of India (SOI) provides the most accurate and reliable boundary shapefile for Indian states. You can easily download the SOI India state boundary (Administrative Level 3) shapefile from the below:

How to Use These Shapefiles

1. Download the Zip File: Click the above link(s) and download the zip file containing the shapefile.
2. Extract the Contents: Unzip the downloaded file. Inside, you’ll find multiple files with extensions like .shp, .shx, .dbf, etc. All these files make up a shapefile dataset.
3. Import into GIS Software: Open your preferred GIS software (such as QGIS or ArcGIS). Use the “Add Vector Layer” tool, and select the .shp file.
4. Start Mapping: Now you’re ready to visualize and analyze India’s administrative boundaries!

Why Use Official SOI Shapefiles?

• Accuracy: Data is sourced from the official Survey of India, the most authoritative mapping agency in the country.
• Consistency: The boundaries are aligned with government records, ensuring reliability for your work.
• Compatibility: Standard shapefile format works in all major GIS and remote sensing software.

Happy Mapping!

This resource is provided by SimplyGIS to support the GIS and spatial analysis community in India. Please always respect data usage policies and copyright regulations as outlined by the Survey of India.