The last Khond chief, Anu, rebelled, and a conspiracy led to his deposition through a struggle called "gol."

Angul subdivision, roughly the central part of the district, was initially a feudatory state under the East India Company who had entered into a treaty with its rules after the lapse of Maratha authority in the area around 1803.

His state was escheated as a Government Estate and was attached to the Orissa Division for administrative convenience.

A Deputy Commissioner cum District Magistrate was appointed with extensive powers.

The Pallahara, Athamallik and Talcher subdivisions of the district were also separate feudatory states, known as Garhjats in Odisha.

The district administration is headed by a Collector and District Magistrate, usually called the Collector who combines in his office the roles of revenue collection, law and order maintenance and implementation of development programmes.

The Block Development Officer (BDO) and Tahsildar cum Executive Magistrate are the respective heads of each.

He supervises the functioning of the BDOs directly and reports to the Collector who is ex officio Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad.

The SP is technically subordinate to the District Magistrate but in practice is almost completely independent except for certain statutory functions.

He is assisted by Additional and Deputy SPs at the headquarters and by SDPOs at police subdivision levels.

Owing to the large industrial establishments and major mining related disputes, Angul has a heavier than usual police presence.

A Regional Chief Conservator of Forests posted at Angul supervises them apart from heading the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

The civil and criminal justice system are under the District and Sessions Judge at Angul.

[10] In December 2020, the coal mines were auctioned for supplying to an Aluminium Smelter plant in Jharsuguda.