List of districts of Arunachal Pradesh

As of February 2024, the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh comprised 27 districts,[1] not including Itanagar capital complex,[2] with more districts proposed.[3] Most of the districts are inhabited by various tribal groups. The latest and presently valid official map of districts of Arunachal Pradesh, after the most recent new districts were last announced on 30 August 2018, is in the external links.

Itanagar capital complex

Itanagar capital complex is administered by its own Deputy Commissioner,[4] and contains the three circles of Itanagar, Naharlagun, and Banderdewa.[5][6] In January 2013 the Arunachal Pradesh government approved in principle the creation of a "Capital district".[7] The capital complex is currently treated as its own district by some government departments, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for example,[8] and the Arunachal Pradesh State portal in particular.[2] But the Arunachal Pradesh reorganization of district Act of 1980 with the latest amendments from 2024 does not list Itanagar capital complex as a district.[9][10]

History

Year of formation of districts in Arunachal Pradesh
1965 [5] Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap
1980 [10] Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri, Lohit, Dibang Valley, East Siang, West Siang, East Kameng, West Kameng, Tirap
1984 [11] Tawang
1987 [12] Changlang
1992 [13] Papum Pare
1994 [14] Upper Siang
2001 [16] Kurung Kumey, Lower Dibang Valley
2004 [17] Anjaw
2012 [18] Longding
2014 [19] Namsai
2015 [21] Kra Daadi, Siang
2017 [23] Lower Siang, Kamle
2018 [26] Pakke-Kessang, Lepa-Rada, Shi-Yomi
2024 [28] Bichom[2] Keyi Panyor[2]
Numbers in brackets represent total number of districts in the state
  • In September 1965, when control of the North-East Frontier Agency was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, its five divisions, Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap each became districts. Over the next few years many new districts were created out of the original five:
  • On 13 May 1980 Subansiri district was bifurcated into two districts: Lower Subansiri district and Upper Subansiri district. Upper Subansiri district comprised the area occupied by the erstwhile Daporijo sub-division and Lower Subansiri district comprised the rest of the area occupied by the erstwhile Subansiri district.[11]
  • On 1 June 1980,
  1. The erstwhile Lohit district was divided into two districts: Lohit district and Dibang Valley district.[12]
  2. Siang district was bifurcated into two districts: East Siang district and West Siang district.[13]
  3. Seppa and Bomdila sub-divisions of the Kameng district were transformed into East Kameng district and West Kameng district, respectively.[14][15]
  • In 1987, the erstwhile Tirap district was divided into two districts: Tirap district and Changlang district.[17]
  • On 22 September 1992, the erstwhile Lower Subansiri district was again bifurcated into Lower Subansiri district and Papum Pare district.[18]
  • On 27 November 2015, a new Siang district was carved out from parts of East Siang and West Siang districts.[25]
  • On 4 December 2017, a new district called Kamle district was created from Lower Subansiri District and Upper Subansiri District, with its headquarters to be located in Raga.[29] It comprises the administrative circles of Raga (which will be the district HQ), Kumporijo and Dollungmukh circles from Lower Subansiri District.[3] The administrative circles taken from Upper Subansiri District will be Gepen Circle, Puchigeko Circle, Daporijo Sadar which falls under 25 Raga Constituency including Ligu and Liruk demarcation from Sigen Subansiri confluence in Single Administrative Unit.[citation needed]
  • On 30 August 2018, following 3 new districts were formed:
  1. Pakke-Kesang carved out of East Kameng district with five administrative units namely Pakke-Kessang, Seijosa, Pijiriang, Passa Valley and Dissingn Passo with district headquarters at Lemmi.
  2. Lepa-Rada created by bifurcating the Lower Siang district with headquarters at Basar and 4 administrative units namely Tirbin, Basar, Daring and Sago.
  3. Shi-Yomi created by bifurcating the West Siang district with its headquarters at Tato and 4 administrative units namely Mechuka, Tato, Pidi and Manigong.[30]
  • On 7 February 2024, following 2 new districts were formed:
  1. Bichom from 20 villages from West Kameng and 11 from East Kameng district.[2] It entails 3 circles – Bana, Richikrong and Lada – where Aka and Nyishi tribes live.[citation needed]
  2. Keyi Panyor with 195 villages carved out from Lower Subansiri district and will also include Ter Gapin and Sam Sath area.[2]

Administrative set-up

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Districts of Arunachal Pradesh since 2018
Legend： Capital Year created 2018 Year created 2017 Year created 2015 Created before 2015


The districts of Arunachal Pradesh state are administrative geographical units, each headed by a deputy commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service and a superintendent of police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service.

List of districts, clockwise starting from west, is as follows:[31]

Code District Headquarters Population
(2011)[32] 		Area
(km2) 		Density
(/km2) 		Year
created 		Map
TA Tawang Tawang Town 49,950 2,085 24 1984
WK West Kameng Bomdila 87,013 7,422 12 1980
Bichom[2] Napangphung 9,710 2,897 12 2024
EK East Kameng Seppa 78,413 4,134 19 1980
Pakke-Kessang Lemmi 2018
Kurung Kumey Koloriang 89,717 8,818 10 2001
PA Papum Pare Yupia 176,385 2,875 61 1992
Kra Daadi Jamin 22,290 2,202 10 2015
LB Lower Subansiri Ziro 82,839 3,460 24 1980
Kamle Raga 22,256[29] 200 111.28 2017
Keyi Panyor Yachuli 2024
UB Upper Subansiri Daporijo 83,205 7,032 12 1980
Shi-Yomi Tato 13,310 2,875 4.6 2018
WS West Siang Aalo 112,272 8,325 12 1980
Siang Boleng 31,920 2,919 11 2015
Lower Siang Likabali 80,597 2017
Lepa-Rada Basar 2018
US Upper Siang Yingkiong 33,146 6,188 5 1994
ES East Siang Pasighat 99,019 4,005 25 1980
Dibang Valley Anini 7,948 9,129 1 2001
UD Lower Dibang Valley Roing 53,986 3,900 14 2001
EL Lohit Tezu 145,538 2,402 61 1980
AJ Anjaw Hawai 21,089 6,190 3 2004
Namsai Namsai 95,950 1,587 60 2014
CH Changlang Changlang 147,951 4,662 32 1987
TI Tirap Khonsa 111,975 2,362 47 1965
LD Longding Longding 60,000[33] 1,200[33] 50[33] 2012

Proposals for new districts

Proposed new districts listed clockwise starting from west:

  • From Tawang district (HQ- Tawang):
    • Zemithang district (HQ- Zemithang): northwest of Tawang town, near India-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction.
    • Lumla district (HQ- Lumla): west of Tawang town, near Bhutan border.
    • Mago district (HQ- Mago): east of Tawang town and north of Nafra.
    • Kumey district (HQ- Patuk): from existing Kurung Kumey district will have 12,000 population across Damin, Parsi-Parlo and Panja-Sing circles.[34] It lies east of Sarli and Koloriang.
    • Chulla district (HQ- Chulla): in
    • Limeking district (HQ- Limeking): northwest of Nacho.
    • Mechuka district (HQ- Mechuka): in existing Shi-Yomi district, east of Nacho.
    • Monigong district (HQ- Monigong): in existing east of Mechuka and west of Tuting.
    • Tuting district (HQ - Tuting): from existing Upper Siang district, including Singa, Gelling, Paling and Miging and Tuting circles of Tuting sub-division on India-China border along the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra River).[34]
    • Sinik district (Singa district) (HQ- Singa): from existing Upper Siang district. There is demand to create two districts out of Nacho constituency and subdivision -Tuting district in Sinik district.[34] This lies on India-China border southeast of Tuting towards Anini.
    • Asunli district (HQ: Asunli) : from western "Dibang Valley district", west of Anini towards Tuting & Singa.
    • Engolin (HQ: Engolin) : from northern "Dibang Valley district", north of Mipi and Anini.
    • Malinye district (HQ: Malinye) from eastern "Dibang Valley district", southeast of Anini and east of Etalin towards Chaglagam, immediate north of Fish Tail-II.
    • Esuli district i.e. Yamne-Sikang district[34] (HQ: Esuli) from south "Dibang Valley district", along Sikang river (Dibang River), 180 km south of Anini, 130 south of Etalin, 145 km north of Roing. Two NW-SE flowing tributary rivers meet the Dibang river at Esuli, one flowing along Cheppe and Egolin on Tuting-Singa-Cheppe/Egolin section of under construction Arunachal Frontier Highway, and other flowing parallel to the first one to its east along Asunli.
    • Chaglagam district (HQ Chaglagam): fom northwest part of Anjaw district, immediate south of Fish Tail-II.
    • Hayuliang district (HQ- Hayuliang): from southwest part of Anjaw district.
    • Dong district (Dong): from northeast part of Anjaw district including Kibithu.
    • Diyun district (HQ- Diyun): between Namsai district HQ and Miao.
    • Jairampur district (HQ- Jairampur): southwest of Diyun, on border with Assam.
    • Rima district (HQ- Miao): from existing Changlang district was proposed in 2017 entail8ng existing subdivisions of Diyun, Bordumsa, Kharsang, Jairampur, Nampong, Rima-Putak (Tikhak), Miao, and Vijoynagar from the "Changlang district". However, it was unanimously opposed by the Changlang People's Forum in the same month.[35][36]
    • Borduria district (HQ- Borduria):[34] Borduria lies 10 km north of Tirap district headquarter Khonsa.

See also

References

  1. ^ Arunachal gets to new districts, northeastlivetv.com 8 Feb 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g List of districts of arunachal Pradesh, arunachalpradesh.gov.in, accessed 8 Feb 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Arunachal Assembly approves Kamle as 23rd district of state". Arunachal24.in. 18 October 2017.
  4. ^ "District Census Handbook, Papum Pare" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 9.
  5. ^ "Itanagar Capital Complex". itanagar.nic.in. District Administration Itanagar Capital Complex.
  6. ^ "Itanagar Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner(capital) role creation notification" (PDF). itanagar.nic.in. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Arunachal to get four new districts". The Times of India. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  8. ^ "State Profile of Arunachal Pradesh" (PDF). Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. 2014. pp. 12–15.
  9. ^ "The Arunachal Pradesh reorganization of district Act of 1980" (PDF).
  10. ^ "The Arunachal Pradesh reorganization of district Act of 1980" (PDF). prsindia.org.
  11. ^ "District Census Handbook, Lower Subansiri" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b "District Census Handbook, Lower Dibang Valley" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. xix.
  13. ^ "District Census Handbook, East Siang" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  14. ^ "District Census Handbook, East Kameng" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  15. ^ "District Census Handbook, West Kameng" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  16. ^ "District Census Handbook, Tawang District" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  17. ^ "District Census Handbook, Changlang" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  18. ^ "District Census Handbook, Papum Pare" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  19. ^ "District Census Handbook, Upper Siang" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  20. ^ "District Census Handbook, Kurung Kumey" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  21. ^ "District Census Handbook, Anjaw" (PDF). Government of India. 16 June 2014. p. 8.
  22. ^ Gwillim, Law (2016). "India Districts". www.statoids.com.
  23. ^ "Namsai became the 18th district of Arunachal Pradesh in November 2014". India Today. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Arunachal Pradesh carves out new district". The Times of India. 9 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Siang becomes 21st district of Arunachal". The Arunachal Times. 28 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Arunachal to get four new districts". The Times of India. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  27. ^ Lepcha, Damien (23 September 2017). "Lower Siang starts functioning". The Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Khandu Cabinet approves Operation of Lower Siang District with HQ Likabali". Arunachal24.in. 22 September 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Protect tribals if Chakma & Hajong are considered for citizenship, says legislative assembly". arunachaltimes.in. 19 October 2017.
  30. ^ "Arunachal Assembly Passes Bill For Creation Of 3 New Districts". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  31. ^ "State Profile of Arunachal Pradesh" (PDF). Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. 2014. pp. 12–15.
  32. ^ "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in.
  33. ^ a b c Longding is included as part of Tirap
  34. ^ a b c d e f [https://arunachalobserver.org/2018/11/05/demand-new-district-continues-tuting-district-offing-27-one-next-7-demanded/ Tuting district in offing to be 27, which one next of 7 demanded? arunachalobserver, 5 Nov 2018.
  35. ^ Zauing, Pisi (11 February 2017). "Consensus reached on creation of new district". The Arunachal Times.
  36. ^ "Civil society opposes creation of proposed Namdapha/Rima dist". The Arunachal Times. 18 February 2017.