Powers and functions of the District Collector:

I. Revenue Functions: District collector is the head of the revenue administration of the district.His foremost task is the assessment and collection of land revenue.

In this,he performs the following functions:

1.to collect land revenue.

2. to collect other government dues.

3. to distribute and recover taccavi loans.

4. to maintain land records.

5. to collect rural statistics.

6. to exercise the power of land acquisition officers, i.e. acquiring land for the purpose of colonisation, industry, slum clearance, etc.

7. to implement land reforms.

8. to look after the welfare of the agriculturists.

9. to make an assessment of losses of crops and recommend relief during natural calamities like fire, draught and flood, etc.

10. to supervise treasury and sub treasury. 

11. to enforce the Stamps Act.

12. to pay a rehabilitation grant.

13. to manage government estates.

14. to hear revenue appeals against the orders of lower authorities.

15. to  pay Zamindari Abolition compensation. 

II. Functions regarding Loans and Land record,etc: Agricultural loans are distributed by the collector and his staff,relief works have to be taken up on a very extensive scale in case of a feminine,floods,etc.Land acquisition is another major responsibility of the collector.Due to various development projects,housing schemes, slum clearance,etc.land has to be acquired for public purposes.The collector is responsible for this acquisition. He also maintains proper land records. He is responsible not only for the maintenance of these records but also their revision from time to time.He is the manager of government estates, government land, forests, water ways, etc. In the district lastly, he also hears appeals in revenue cases against the orders of lower courts. The revenue work is a colossal task in itself and therefore, there are many subordinate officers to assist him. In some of the states like Andhra Pradesh, another IAS officer designated as the district revenue officer is appointed to assist the collector in his revenue work.

III. Maintenance of Law and Order: In this capacity he is responsible for the maintenance of law and order in his district. Three elements are involved, i.e. the police, the judiciary and the jails.As a District Magistrate, he performs the following functions:

1. To control and supervise the subordinate magistracy.

2. In case of threat to public peace, to order imposition of section 144 of the criminal procedure code.

3. To inspect the jails.

4. To release prisoners on parole.

5. To grant superior classes to prisoners.

6. To submit an annual criminal report to the Govt.

7. To grant, suspend or cancel many kinds of licences like arms, hotels, explosives, etc.

8. To control and direct the action of district police.

9. To enforce Entertainment Tax Act and Press Act.

10. To prosecute offenders under the Factories Act and Trade Mark Act.

11. To order disposal of unclaimed property. 

12. To recommend schemes for the development of forests.

13. To supervise and control local bodies.

He also acts in many ways as an agent of the judiciary. The executions of writs of the civil and criminal courts, including criminal writs from courts outside the district, is normally done through the magisterial elements of the district administration. He supervises the subordinate magistracy and orders magisterial postings when required.

The District Jail is under his general control. He can visit the Jail from time to time to see that all is well and ensure the expeditious disposal of cases of under-trial prisoners. He deals with different problems connected with the Jail administration.

IV. Coordinator of different departments/offices:

1. Formerly,the district collector used to be the coordinating agency in overall charge of every important official activity in the district.

2. After independence,several departments of technical nature were set up.For example public health,public works,agriculture,irrigation, education and cooperation.These are headed by specialists and are not under the supervision of the collector.These have their own programmes of development which they conduct on their own without the interference of the collector.

3. This has, to some extent, weakened the collectors role as a coordinating agency. In spite of this, the entire team in a district has to work with a sense of dedication in the same manner as a soldier on the battle front.

4. The district officer is still the commander who has to organise and coordinate the different departments and achieve the target which must be clearly laid down. To emerge as a successful coordinator, the collector must give each agency breathing space, remove bottle necks, invoke the trust of the various departments in himself and bring out unity of purpose.

V. Crisis Management:

1. During emergencies such as those caused by natural calamities,floods,famines, cyclones,etc.or man made crises such as riots, fires of external aggression, it is he who holds an umbrella over the district.

2. He also enforces civil defence measures, is responsible for the protection of vital installations, prevents panic and performs a host of other crucial functions.

VI.Development Functions:

1. He has become a pivotal figure in the implementation of development programmes. In many states he is also designated as the District Development Officer.

2. He is made responsible for both regulatory and development administration.The great influence that the collector wields in the district should be harnessed to the task of development.His development role has become a focal point after the initiation of development planning in India.

3. Several programmes for the welfare and benefit of the down-trodden have been started by the government. Rural development programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and improving the living standards of the poor have gained significance after 1970's. As such, now the emphasis is on his leadership role in the extension and development activity of the district.

4. He is the ex-officio chairman of the district rural development agency (DRDA).His role in rural development has also to be viewed in terms of his position in and relationship with the Zila Parishads.

5. This role has been changing and a balance has been resorted between the autonomy of the Zila Parishad and the powers of the collector. Again the 73rd and 74th amendments and the enactments on Panchayati Raj by

various states in 1993 and early 1994 have changed the role and the responsibilities of the collector with regard to developmental activities.

VII. Other Functions: Besides the above,he performs many other functions.These are:

1. Returning officer and coordinator of election work of Parliament and Vidhan Sabha constituencies at the district level.

2. He conducts census operations every 10 years.

3. Grant of old age pension and house building loans.

4. Preparation of district gazetteers and protection of ancient monuments.

5. Supervision and control over municipalities in the district.

6. Acts as a protocol officer.

7. He is responsible for small savings schemes and contributions to the national defence fund (NDF).

8. He is the chairman of several committees such as the family planning committee, public grievance committee, planning committee, soldiers welfare fund committee, etc.

9. Attending character verification, issuing certificates of domicile, scheduled castes and backward classes, political sufferers, etc.

10. Superintendence over all other branches of district administration.