Jalna district is situated at the center of Maharashtra, India, in the northern part of the Marathwada region. It lies between 19°1′ to 21°3′ North Latitudes and 75°4′ to 76°4′ East Longitude.

In the past, Jalna was a part of the Nizam State and later became a part of India after the Marathwada Mukti Sangram, becoming a tahsil (subdivision) of Aurangabad district.

The district is well-known for its hybrid seed industries, steel re-rolling mills, bidi industry, and agro-based businesses like dal mills. It also has the highest production of Sweet Lemon (Mosambi) in the state.

During the Marathwada Mukti Sangram, the people of Jalna played a significant role, with Shri. Janardan Mama Nagapurkar sacrificing his life for the motherland.

The Godavari River flows along the southern boundary of the district, moving from west to east. Additionally, the Purna River, a major tributary of the Godavari, also passes through the district.