List of districts of Arunachal Pradesh explained

, the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh comprised 28 districts,^[1] including Itanagar capital complex,^[2] 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

• 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:
• In 1972, when Arunachal became a state, the Itanagar was designated as the capital complex as a separate district level administrative unit.
• 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.^[3]
• On 1 June 1980,

1. The erstwhile Lohit district was divided into two districts: Lohit district and Dibang Valley district.^[4]
2. Siang district was bifurcated into two districts: East Siang district and West Siang district.^[5]
3. Seppa and Bomdila sub-divisions of the Kameng district were transformed into East Kameng district and West Kameng district, respectively.^{[6] [7]}

• On 6 October 1984, Tawang district was separated from East Kameng district.^[8]
• In 1987, the erstwhile Tirap district was divided into two districts: Tirap district and Changlang district.^[9]
• On 22 September 1992, the erstwhile Lower Subansiri district was again bifurcated into Lower Subansiri district and Papum Pare district.^[10]
• On 23 November 1994, Upper Siang district was split from East Siang district.^[11]
• On 1 April 2001, Kurung Kumey district was carved out from the erstwhile Lower Subansiri district.^[12]
• On 16 December 2001, Dibang Valley district was bifurcated into Dibang Valley district and Lower Dibang Valley district.^[4]
• On 16 February 2004, Anjaw district was carved out from the erstwhile Lohit district.^[13]
• On 19 March 2012, Longding district was carved out from the erstwhile Tirap district.^[14]
• On 25 November 2014, Namsai district was carved out from the erstwhile Lohit district.^[15]
• On 7 February 2015, Kra Daadi district was carved out from the erstwhile Kurung Kumey district.^[16]
• On 27 November 2015, a new Siang district was carved out from parts of East Siang and West Siang districts.^[17]
• On 22 September 2017, Lower Siang district, was carved out of West Siang and East Siang districts.^{[18] [19] [20]}
• 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.^[21] It comprises the administrative circles of Raga (which will be the district HQ), Kumporijo and Dollungmukh circles from Lower Subansiri District.^[22] 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.
• 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.^[23]

• On 7 February 2024, following 2 new districts were formed:

1. 1. Bichom 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

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:^[24]

Code	District	Headquarters	Population (2011)^[25]	Area (km^2)	Density (/km^2)	Year created	Map
TA	Tawang	Tawang Town	49,950	2,085	24	1984
WK	West Kameng	Bomdila	87,013	7,422	12	1980
	Bichom	Napangphung	9,710	2,897	12	2024
EK	East Kameng	Seppa	78,413	4,134	19	1980
						2018
	Kurung Kumey	Koloriang	89,717	8,818	10	2001
PA	Papum Pare	Yupia	176,385	2,875	61	1992
	Itanagar	Itanagar	59,490		3	2004
	Kra Daadi	Jamin	22,290	2,202	10	2015
LB	Lower Subansiri	Ziro	82,839	3,460	24	1980
			22,256	200	111.28	2017
		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
			80,597			2017
	Lepa-Rada					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^[26]	1,200	50	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.
• From West Kameng district (HQ- Bomdila):
  • Semteng district (HQ- Semteng): on southeast border of Bhutan, west of Shergaon and Bomdila.
  • Sangti district (HQ- Sangti): in Sangti Valley, northeast of Bomdila.
• From existing Kurung Kumey district (HQ- Koloriang):
  • North Subansiri district (HQ- Sarli): from existing 3 districts, namely Kurung Kumey district, Kra Daadi district and Upper Subansiri district on the northernmost Indo-China border entailing the subdivisions of Sarli and Damin from "Kurung Kumey district", Pipsorang and Longding Koling from "Kra Daadi district", and Taksing, Limeking, Nacho and Siyum from the "Upper Subansiri district". It lies west of Koloriang.
  • Kumey district (HQ- Patuk): from existing Kurung Kumey district will have 12,000 population across Damin, Parsi-Parlo and Panja-Sing circles. It lies east of Sarli and Koloriang.
  • Chulla district (HQ- Chulla): in
• From existing Papum Pare district (HQ- Yupia):
  • Sagalee district (HQ- Sagalee): entailing the existing sub-divisions of Sagalee, Leporiang, Parang, and Mengio.^[27]
• From existing Upper Subansiri district (HQ- Daporijo):
  • Limeking district (HQ- Limeking): northwest of Nacho.
• From Shi Yomi district (HQ- Tato):
  • 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.
• From existing Upper Siang district (HQ- Yingkiong):
  • 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).^[27]
  • 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.^[27] This lies on India-China border southeast of Tuting towards Anini.
• From existing Dibang Valley district (HQ: 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^[27] (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.
• From Anjaw district (HQ Hawai): the easternmost district.
  • 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.
• From existing Changlang district (HQ Changlang):
  • Vijaynagar district (Arunachal) (HQ- Vijoynagar): includes Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve.
  • Diyun district (HQ- Diyun): between Namsai district HQ and Miao.
  • Jairampur district (HQ- Jairampur): southwest of Diyun, on border with Assam.
  • Nampong district (HQ- Nampong: near Pangsau Pass on border with Myanmar on NH-3155 Ledo Road (Stilwell Road).
  • 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.^{[28] [29]}
• From existing Tirap district (HQ: Khonsa):
  • Borduria district (HQ- Borduria):^[27] Borduria lies 10 km north of Tirap district headquarter Khonsa.

See also

• Administrative divisions of India
• India-China border infrastructure
• Northeast India
• Tourism in Northeast India

External links

• Official map of districts of Arunachal Pradesh, this is latest and currently valid map after the most recently new districts were last announced on 30 August 2018.

Notes and References

1. https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/arunachal-gets-2-new-districts-keyi-panyor-and-bichom-state-assembly-passes-bill/ Arunachal gets to new districts
2. https://arunachalpradesh.gov.in/district.html List of districts of arunachal Pradesh
3. Web site: District Census Handbook, Lower Subansiri. Government of India. 16 June 2014.
4. Web site: District Census Handbook, Lower Dibang Valley. Government of India. xix. 16 June 2014.
5. Web site: District Census Handbook, East Siang. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
6. Web site: District Census Handbook, East Kameng. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
7. Web site: District Census Handbook, West Kameng. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
8. Web site: District Census Handbook, Tawang District. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
9. Web site: District Census Handbook, Changlang. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
10. Web site: District Census Handbook, Papum Pare. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
11. Web site: District Census Handbook, Upper Siang. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
12. Web site: District Census Handbook, Kurung Kumey. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
13. Web site: District Census Handbook, Anjaw. Government of India. 8. 16 June 2014.
14. Web site: Gwillim. Law. India Districts. www.statoids.com. 2016.
15. News: Namsai became the 18th district of Arunachal Pradesh in November 2014. 26 October 2015. India Today. December 18, 2014.
16. Web site: Arunachal Pradesh carves out new district. The Times of India. 9 February 2015.
17. Web site: Siang becomes 21st district of Arunachal. The Arunachal Times. 28 November 2015.
18. News: Arunachal to get four new districts. https://archive.today/20130704113703/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-16/guwahati/36373386_1_new-districts-changlang-west-siang. dead. 2013-07-04. 2013-01-16. The Times of India. 2013-01-16.
19. Web site: Lepcha. Damien. Lower Siang starts functioning. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032925/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170923/jsp/northeast/story_174524.jsp. dead. 1 December 2017. The Telegraph India. 23 September 2017.
20. Web site: Khandu Cabinet approves Operation of Lower Siang District with HQ Likabali. Arunachal24.in. 22 September 2017.
21. News: Protect tribals if Chakma & Hajong are considered for citizenship, says legislative assembly. arunachaltimes.in. 19 October 2017.
22. News: Arunachal Assembly approves Kamle as 23rd district of state. Arunachal24.in. 18 October 2017.
23. News: Arunachal Assembly Passes Bill For Creation Of 3 New Districts. NDTV.com. 2018-08-30.
24. Web site: State Profile of Arunachal Pradesh. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. 12–15. 2014.
25. Web site: District Census 2011 . Census2011.co.in .
26. [Longding District|Longding]
27. 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.
28. Web site: Zauing. Pisi. Consensus reached on creation of new district. The Arunachal Times. 11 February 2017.
29. Web site: Civil society opposes creation of proposed Namdapha/Rima dist. The Arunachal Times. 18 February 2017.