Koppal is a geographical and administrative concept, specifically a district and its headquarters town located in the northern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. The district was formally created on April 1, 1998, when it was carved out of the erstwhile Raichur District. Historically, the region was part of the Hyderabad-Karnataka area, which gained independence from the Nizam of Hyderabad on September 18, 1948. The name "KOPPAL" is ancient, appearing in the poetic work Kavirajamarga (dating to King Nrupathunga's time, 814-878 A.D.) as "VIDITHA MAHA KOPANA NAGARA". It was also historically known as "Jainkashi" due to the presence of over 700 Basadis (Jain meditation halls).
As an administrative unit, the district comprises four talukas: Koppal, Gangavathi, Kushtagi, and Yelburga. Its economy is heavily driven by the primary sector (agriculture), which contributes more than double the state's average to the Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP). The district is closely connected to the history of the Vijayanagara Dynasty, as Anegundi (in Gangavathi Taluk) served as its first capital. It is also geographically near the world heritage site of Hampi. A key socio-economic feature is its low per capita income (Rs. 73,916) and high incidence of poverty (40.7% in 2011-12), which is significantly higher than the state average. The most recent major change was its formation as a separate district in 1998.