Key Difference: The primary difference between Delhi and New Delhi is that Delhi is a city and a union territory of India, whereas New Delhi is one of Delhi’s 11 districts. Hence, New Delhi is just a small part of the bigger Delhi.

The names Delhi and New Delhi are often used interchangeably, as most people think that they are the same thing. That confusion is so widespread that even citizens of India are misinformed and misidentify it with each other. The confusion is created not only due to the similar names but also by the fact that they seem to be located in the same place, or rather within each other.

Delhi is officially known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi or NCT. It is a large metropolitan city that is categorized as a union territory of India. The city is divided into 11 districts for easier management. One of these 11 districts is named New Delhi; hence, it should be noted that New Delhi is a part of the city of Delhi.

While most people mistakenly think that Delhi is the capital of India, in reality it is actually New Delhi, which has the privilege of having that title. New Delhi has had the honor since 1911, when the George V, Emperor of India during the Delhi Durbar of 1911 officially announced it and laid the foundation course. This saw the capital shift from Calcutta (Kolkata now) which had been the capital of British India for about 200 years.