The total number of rural development blocks in Punjab is 150. The latest addition to this list is Shambu Kalan block in Patiala district, which was formed in May 2018. The previous addition is Malaud block under Payal constituency in Ludhiana district, which was given the status of block in February 2016. There are total 22 districts in Punjab and for the purpose of rural development, each district is further divided into development blocks or simply called as block. There is block development and panchayat office (BDPO Office, generally pronounced as BDO) in each block and there is also a Block Samiti. The incharge of this office, block development and panchayat officer (BDPO), is also executive officer of Block Samiti. There is also a chairman of the block samiti, which is a political leader elected through voting. Rural Development Minister - The BDPO offices come under the Rural Development and Panchayats department. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa of Congress is the cabinet minister of this department. He is an MLA from Fatehgarh Churian vidhan sabha seat in Gurdaspur district. A district wise list of blocks in Punjab is given below.