District Kurukshetra was created out of District Karnal in the year 1973. Later on some area of the erstwhile district were transferred to Kaithal & Yamuna Nagar District when these two districts were created. District Kurukshetra forms a part of Ambala Division. At present Kurukshetra district is divided into 2 Revenue Sub Divisions namely Thanesar & Pehowa. Thanesar Sub Division comprises of Thanesar and Shahabad Tehsils and Ladwa, Babain Sub Tehsils. Pehowa Sub Division includes Pehowa Tehsil and Ismailabad Sub Tehsil.

To cater development needs of the rural areas in the district, the district has been divided into 5 Community Development Blocks namely Thanesar, Ladwa, Shahabad, Babain and Pehowa. Three tier Panchayati Raj Institutions structure is in place to look after the development in rural areas with Zila Parishad at district level, Panchayat Samities at each of the 5 Community Development Blocks and Panchayats at village level. 364 Panchayats are working and looking after the development needs of 419 villages of the district. Kurukshetra district has 4 towns namely Thanesar, Shahabad, Ladwa and Pehowa where Municipal Council/Municipal Committees have been installed among other things looked after the development of these towns.

District Kurukshetra falls under Kurukshetra Parliamentary Constituency and Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra is Returning Officer for this Constituency. The area of district Kurukshetra is spread in Thanesar, Shahabad, Pehowa, Nilokheri & Pundri Assembly Constituencies.  

The administrative work is carried out by the various departments.