# Barnala district

Barnala is one of the districts of Indian state of Punjab. It was carved out of Sangrur district, in November 2006. It is a centrally located district bordered by Ludhiana district on the north, Moga district on northwest, Bathinda district on west, Sangrur district on east and Mansa district on south. As per census 2011, the population of District Barnala is 5,96,294. The town has a thriving industrial sector with two main industries: Trident Group and a large industry producing Combines.
It is a centrally located district bordered by Ludhiana district on the north, Moga district on the northwest, Bathinda district on the west, Sangrur district on east and Mansa district on south. The current MLAs of the district are Mr. Meet Hayer of AAP from Barnala Constituency, Mr. Labh Singh Ugoke of AAP from Bhadaur Constituency, and Mr. Kulwant Singh Pandori of AAP from Mehal Kalan Constituency.
As of 2011, it is the least populous district of Punjab (out of 23).

## District administration

* The Deputy Commissioner (DC), an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, is the overall in-charge of the general administration in the district. Currently Poonamdeep Kaur, IAS is Deputy Commissioner of Barnala District. He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Punjab Civil Service and other state services.
* The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues of the district. Currently, Mr.Sandeep Malik, IPS is the Senior Superintendent of Police. He is expected to maintain very cordial relations with all the NGO's and social associations of the city. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Police Service and other Punjab Police officials.
* Indian Red Cross Society (IRC). Red Cross is globally accredited for its presence in providing quality health care services and always extends a helping hand to the needy. Indian Red Cross Society (IRC), Barnala District branch is having Mr. Sarwan Singh as its secretary. Patrons, Life Members, and volunteers of the society recently attended a "Seminar on Fund Raising and Capacity Building" at Ferozepur (the border town of Punjab)on 26 April 2011. Dr. Raj Kumar Jindal led the delegation.
* The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO). He is responsible for public relations of the state government as well as the district administrations. He issues and authorizes press notes to the print and electronic media of the district. Maintains records of all press and electronic channel reporters. Currently, Smt. Megha Mann is the DPRO of the Barnala District.
* The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service is responsible for managing the forests, environment, and wildlife-related issues of the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Forest Service and other Punjab Forest officials and Punjab Wild-Life officials. Sectoral development is looked after by the district head of each development department such as PWD, Agriculture, Health, Education, and Animal husbandry. These officers belong to various State Services.
* The District Informatics Officer (DIO), head of National Informatics Center. This department works regarding the E-Governance and other Technology-based Services that provide an automated environment to do the various tasks in District Office. Currently, Mr.Mohammad kasif is DIO.

## Demographics

* Punjabi (95.14%)
* Hindi (4.3%)
* Others (0.56%)
Religion in Barnala district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Sikhism | Sikhism | 78.54% | 78.54% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 18.95% | 18.95% |
| Islam | Islam | 2.20% | 2.20% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.30% | 0.30% |
According to the 2011 census, Barnala district has a population of 595,527, roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands or the US state of Wyoming. As per 2011 census, Barnala is the least populous district of Punjab. This gives it a ranking of 527th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 419 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,090/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.16%. Barnala has a sex ratio of 876 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 68.9%. Scheduled Castes made up 32.24% of the population.
At the time of the 2011 census, 95.14% of the population spoke Punjabi and 4.30% Hindi as their first language.
The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Barnala district.
Absolute numbers of different religious groups in Barnala district :
| Religion | Urban (2011) | Rural (2011) |
| Sikh | 1,03,541 | 3,64,210 |
| Hindu | 82,016 | 30,843 |
| Muslim | 4,304 | 8,796 |
| Christian | 358 | 264 |
| Other religions | 466 | 729 |
The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Barnala district, as of 2011 census.
Population by religious groups in Barnala district, 2011 census :
| Religion | Total | Female | Male |
| Sikh | 467,751 | 220,451 | 247,300 |
| Hindu | 112,859 | 50,679 | 62,180 |
| Muslim | 13,100 | 6,058 | 7,042 |
| Christian | 622 | 286 | 336 |
| Jain | 246 | 105 | 141 |
| Buddhist | 108 | 41 | 67 |
| Other religions | 481 | 227 | 254 |
| Not stated | 360 | 158 | 202 |
| Total | 595,527 | 278,005 | 317,522 |

## Economy

The income of Municipalities and Municipal corporations in Barnala district from municipal rates and taxes in the year 2018 was 236,253 thousand rupees.

## Health

The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Barnala, as of year 2020.
District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Barnala, year 2019-21 :
| Indicators | Number of children (<5 years) | Percent (2019-21) |
| Stunted | 33.8% | 24.6% |
| Wasted | 9.4% | 11.8% |
| Severely wasted | 2.4% | 6.1% |
| Underweight | 16.5% | 17.9% |
| Overweight/obesity | 6.1% | 3.4% |
| Anemia | 60.6% | 51.5% |
The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Barnay of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, as of year 2019-21.
District nutritional profile of Taran Taran of women of 15-49 years, in 2019-21 :
| Indicators | Percent (2019-21) | Percent (2015-16) |
| Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2) | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Overweight/obesity | 37.7% | 32.4% |
| Anemia (non-preg) | 55.2% | 42.6% |
| Anemia (preg) | 58.5% | 45.0% |
The table below shows the current use of family planning methods by currently married women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Barnala district.
Family planning methods used by women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Barnala district :
| Method | Total (2019–21) | Total (2015–16) | Urban (2015-16) | Rural (2015-16) |
| Female sterilization | 25.8% | 43.5% | 40.7% | 44.8% |
| Male sterilization | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| IUD/PPIUD | 3.2% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 10.7% |
| Pill | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.8% |
| Condom | 20.7% | 12.0% | 17.3% | 9.5% |
| Injectables | 0.2% | 0.4% | -- | -- |
| Any modern method | 53.6% | 68.4% | 67.3% | 68.9% |
| Any method | 69.3% | 78.6% | 82.6% | 76.7% |
| Total unmet need | 9.4% | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.7% |
| Unmet need for spacing | 3.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.2% |
The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Barnala district by year.
Road accidents and people affected in Barnala district by year :
| Year | Accidents | Killed | Injured | Vehicles Involved |
| 2022 | 113 | 79 | 80 | 174 |
| 2021 | 138 | 95 | 90 | 157 |
| 2020 | 164 | 117 | 107 | 124 |
| 2019 | 179 | 117 | 140 | 205 |

## Politics

| No. | Constituency | Name of MLA | Party | Bench |
| 106 | Bhadaur | Labh Singh Ugoke | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |
| 107 | Barnala | Meet Hayer | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |
| 108 | Mehal Kalan (SC) | Kulwant Singh Pandori | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |

## Notable people

* Ram Sarup Ankhi - Punjabi writer, novelist and poet
* Surjit Singh Barnala - politician who served as the chief minister of Punjab state
* Balwant Gargi - Punjabi language dramatist, theatre director, novelist, and short story writer
* Devendra Satyarthi - Indian folklorist and writer of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu literature.
* Karam Singh - soldier who was the first living recipient of the Param Vir Chakra
* Sant Ram Udasi - Punjabi poet