Patliputra was home to many mathematicians, astronomers, astrologists and scholars including Gautam Buddha, Aryabhata, Panini, Vātsyāyana, Chanakya and Kālidāsa.

[9] Patna served as the seat of power, political and cultural centre of the Indian subcontinent.

The modern district of Patna was created in September 1770 as provincial council by the British, to supervise revenue matters of Bihar.

[11] Patna district occupies an area of 3,202 square kilometres (1,236 sq mi),[12] bounded by the Son River to the west, and the Ganges to the north.

The district is divided into sub-divisions or Tehsils, each headed by a Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

[16] The district has a population density of 1,823 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,720/sq mi).

Patna has a sex ratio of 897 females for every 1,000 males, and a literacy rate of 70.68%.

[17] In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Patna one of the country's 250 most backward districts.

[19] Agricultural products include paddy, maize, pulses, wheat, and oilseeds.