Barnala is a city and the administrative headquarters of Barnala district in the Indian state of Punjab. Located in the Malwa region, it serves as a key agricultural and trading hub, surrounded by fertile plains. As of the 2011 census, the city had a population of 116,449, while the district's population was 595,527. Estimates for 2024 project the district population at approximately 839,694, reflecting steady growth driven by rural-urban migration and agricultural prosperity. The city is renowned for its role in Punjab's textile and agro-machinery industries, earning it the nickname "Manchester of Punjab" due to its textile mills. Barnala district was carved out of Sangrur district on 19 November 2006, making it Punjab's 23rd district at the time.