Central Delhi, an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India, is bounded by the Yamuna River on the east, and by the districts of North Delhi to the north, West Delhi and South West Delhi to the west, New Delhi to the south, and East Delhi to the east across the Yamuna. Various business instititions and high rises located in Central Delhi. It includes Shahjahanabad, the earstwile capital of the Mughal Empire, where monuments like the Delhi Fort and the Jama Masjid are located. Jama Masjid is Delhi's principal mosque. For administrative purposes, the district is divided into three subdivisions, namely, Darya Ganj, Pahar Ganj, and Karol Bagh.

Till independence, Delhi had a Chief Commissioner as the administrative and executive head, with the Deputy Commissioner accountable to him. Responsibilities like case work of revenue and criminal appeals, municipal and minor criminal cases, and administration of the Municipality were shared by the three Assistant Commissioners given to him. Post independence, the structure of District Administration underwent some changes with decentralization of powers to the newly created Departments. For example, the Municipality changed into the MCD, in which the DC had no role after the year 1958. The development works were given to the Development Commissioner, the industries work to the Directorate of Industries and the work of transport to the Department of Transport.