Palakkad is one of the fourteen districts of Kerala and has no coastal line. The district opens the state to the rest of the country through the Palakkad Gap with a width of 32 to 40 Km. Its geographical position, historical background, educational status, tourism hot spots and above all, the development activities that are carried out, are wide and varied. The district is one of the main granaries of Kerala and its economy is primarily agricultural. The district is also the land of Palmyrahs.

The present Palakkad district, as an administrative unit, was formed on the first of January 1957, comprising Palakad, Perinthalmanna, Ponnani, Ottapalam, Alathur and Chittur. Later when the Malappuram District was formed excluding Thritala firka of Ponnani Taluk, Mankada firka and Karkidamkunnu & Chetalloor amsoms of Perinthelmanna Taluk were transferred to that district and a new taluk was formed namely Mannarkkad. In 2013, Ottapalam taluk was bifurcated and Pattambi taluk was formed.

At present, the Palakkad district consists of 2 revenue divisions, 7 taluks and 157 revenue Villages. There are 7 Municipalities, 13 block panchayats and 88 village panchayats in the district. The District Police Office is situated near the collectorate. The District headquarters is at Palakkad Town. After the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution, decentralized planning was implemented in the district and a tier system was formed in Panchayat Raj. The District Panchayat is the top-most tier of the Panchayat Raj System. The District Panchayat is headed by a President and a Vice-President and has an office functioning near the Collectorate.

The district is headed by the District Collector and seated at Collectorate, Civil Station, Palakkad. The District Collector exercises control over the various offices in the district and staff attached to the Collectorate. For the maintenance of law and order, the District Police Chief assists the District Collector. The District Panchayat President assists the District Collector in the planning and execution of the development programmes for the district.

The business of the government offices of the district is transacted through the various office heads based on the rules of business. Each office consists of a District Officer, who is the official head of the office and such other officers and staff subordinate to him/her assigned with specific duties.