As of February 2024[update], the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh comprised 27 districts, not including Itanagar capital complex, with more districts proposed. 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.
History
Year of formation of districts in Arunachal Pradesh
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.
On 1 June 1980,
The erstwhile Lohit district was divided into two districts: Lohit district and Dibang Valley district.
On 16 February 2004, Anjaw district was carved out from the erstwhile Lohit district.
On 19 March 2012, Longding district was carved out from the erstwhile Tirap district.
On 25 November 2014, Namsai district was carved out from the erstwhile Lohit district.
On 7 February 2015, Kra Daadi district was carved out from the erstwhile Kurung Kumey district.
On 27 November 2015, a new Siang district was carved out from parts of East Siang and West Siang districts.
On 22 September 2017, Lower Siang district, was carved out of West Siang and East Siang districts.
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. It comprises the administrative circles of Raga (which will be the district HQ), Kumporijo and Dollungmukh circles from Lower Subansiri District. 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:
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.
Lepa-Rada created by bifurcating the Lower Siang district with headquarters at Basar and 4 administrative units namely Tirbin, Basar, Daring and Sago.
Shi-Yomi created by bifurcating the West Siang district with its headquarters at Tato and 4 administrative units namely Mechuka, Tato, Pidi and Manigong.
On 7 February 2024, following 2 new districts were formed:
Bichomfrom 20 villages from West Kameng and 11 from East Kameng district. It entails 3 circles – Bana, Richikrong and Lada – where Aka and Nyishi tribes live.[citation needed]
Keyi Panyor with 195 villages carved out from Lower Subansiri district and will also include Ter Gapin and Sam Sath area.
Administrative divisions
Historical
In some contexts, the state was categorized into five older divisional groupings based on river basins and geography:
Arunachal Pradesh is primarily organized into administrative divisions, each headed by a divisional commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service(IAS) and a deputy inspector general of police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service(IPS).
Itanagar capital complex is administered by its own Deputy Commissioner, and contains the three circles of Itanagar, Naharlagun, and Banderdewa. In January 2013 the Arunachal Pradesh government approved in principle the creation of a "Capital district". The capital complex is currently treated as its own district by some government departments, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for example, and the Arunachal Pradesh State portal in particular. 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.
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.
Several local movements and political representatives have proposed the creation of new administrative districts across Arunachal Pradesh to address challenges related to geographical isolation, border management, and administrative accessibility.
List of Proposed Districts in Arunachal Pradesh Grouped by Current District
Proposed to be carved from three existing districts along the northern Indo-China border: entailing Sarli and Damin (from Kurung Kumey), Pipsorang and Longding Koling (from Kra Daadi), and Taksing, Limeking, Nacho, and Siyum (from Upper Subansiri). Located west of Koloriang.[citation needed]
Proposed from Kurung Kumey district, covering an estimated population of 12,000 across the Damin, Parsi-Parlo, and Panja-Sing circles. Located east of Sarli and Koloriang.
Southern part of the district, located along the Sikang (Dibang) river, approximately 180 km south of Anini and 145 km north of Roing. The proposed headquarters sits near the confluence of tributary rivers along the under-construction Arunachal Frontier Highway.
Proposed in 2017 to entail the subdivisions of Diyun, Bordumsa, Kharsang, Jairampur, Nampong, Rima-Putak (Tikhak), Miao, and Vijoynagar. However, the proposal faced unanimous opposition from the Changlang People's Forum.
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