The administrative center of Katihar district, one of the 38 districts that make up Bihar state in India, is located in Katihar city. The Purnia Division includes the district. It is most well-known for the Category A Katihar Junction Railway Station on the Barauni–Guwahati route. In order to raise its socioeconomic indices, it has been a part of the Government of India’s Aspirational Districts Program from 2018.

In 2022, Bihar’s largest district for growing maize is Katihar.