Districts in Nepal are second level of administrative divisions after provinces. Districts are subdivided into municipalities and rural municipalities. There are seven provinces and 77 districts in Nepal.
Chief District Officer, an official under Ministry of Home Affairs is appointed by the government as the highest administrative officer in a district. The C.D.O is responsible for proper inspection of all the departments in a district such as health, education, security and all other government offices.
Even after Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana to the end of Rana rule in Nepal in 1951 and till the proclamation of new constitution of Kingdom of Nepal in 1962, Nepal remained divided into 32 districts. Each had a headquarters and Bada Haqim (District Administrator) as its head. From 1951 to 1962 many acts and constitutions passed which shows name of districts as below:[2][3][4]
Districts before 1956
East No. 1
East No. 2
East No. 3
East No. 4
Dhankuta
Ilam
Bara
Mahottar-Sarlahi
Saptari
Biratnagar
Jhapa
Chisapanigadhi
Udayapur
West No. 1
West no. 2
West no. 3
West no. 4
Palpa
Pyuthan
Salyan
Jumla
Dailekh
Doti
Bajhang
Baitadi
Dadeldhura
Palhi-majhkhand
Khajhani sivaraj
Dang-deukhuri
Banke-bardiya
Kailali-kanchanpur
Kathmandu valley
Districts from 1956 to 1962
Mechi
Biratnagar
Taplejung
Dhankuta
Bhojpur
Hanumannagar
Sagarmatha
Janakpur
Dolkha
Chautara
Kathmandu
Bara
Trishuli
Rapti
Gorkha
Pokhara
Syangja
Lumbini
Baglung
Gulmi
Kapilavastu
Pyuthan
Humla
Karnali
Jajarkot
Salyan
Dailekh
Nepalganj
Bajhang
Doti
Dhangadhi
Mahakali
Panchayat era (1960–1990)
In 1962, the reorganisation of traditional 32 districts into 14 zones and 75 development Districts.[5]
District Panchayat was one of the four administrative divisions of Nepal during the Panchayat System (1962–1990). During the Panchayat time the country was divided into 75 districts and now 2 districts are added by dividing Nawalparasi and Rukum into 2 districts. Now the total number of districts is 77.
District Development Committee (1990–2015)
Composed of elected members at the district level. It was responsible for formulating district-level development policies. It was established in 1990, following the end of the Panchayat system.
^ ab"संक्षिप्त परिचय" [Short Intro]. ddcdhankuta.gov.np (in Nepali). Govt of Nepal. Retrieved 6 February 2018. ..."श्री ५ राजेन्द्रविक्रम शाह र प्रधानमन्त्री भीमसेन थापाको शासनकालमा प्रशासनिक दृष्टिकोणले वि.सं.१८७३ साल पश्चात देश १० जिल्लामा विभाजन भयो।"