Former administrative units of Nepal explained

Former administrative units of Nepal are administrative divisions during Kingdom of Nepal. In 2008 Nepal was proclaimed a federal republic and old administrative units restricted after adoption of new constitution on 20 September 2015.[1]

Formerly, Nepal was divided into 5 development regions, 14 zones, 75 districts, 58 municipalities and 3157 village development committee.[2] [3] [4] [5]

History

Kingdom of Nepal was formed in 1768, by unification of Nepal.[6]

Before the treaty of Sugauli in 1814–16, the territories under Nepalese control included Darjeeling to the South-east, whole of Sikkim to the east, Nainital to the south-west and the Kumaon Kingdom and Garhwal Kingdom to the west.[7]

After the Sugauli treaty in 1814-16 Nepal came to existence in today's shape. During the time of king Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah and prime minister Bhimsen Thapa, Nepal was divided into 10 districts.[8]

During the time of prime minister Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1885-1901) Nepal was divided into 32 districts and Doti, Palpa and Dhankuta were 3 gaunda (Nepali: गौंडा) (English meaning: Cantonment). Hilly region had 20 districts and Terai had 12 districts.[8]

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 32 districts.[9] [10] [11]

In 1962, the reorganisation of traditional 35 districts into 14 zones and 75 development Districts.[12]

In 1972 (2029 B.S.). The late King Birendra in assistance with renowned scholar late Dr. Hark Gurung brought forth the concept of regional development for the harmonious developments of all parts of the country. Subsequently, he divided Nepal into 4 Development Regions in 1972: Eastern, Central, Western and Far Western. Since the Far Western Development Region became too large in size, it was further divided by creating the Mid-Western Development Region in 1981. Mid-western Development Region was created out of Karnali, Rapti and Bheri zones. It was done with the objective to achieve balanced, effective and rapid development programs in the country.[13]

Development Regions

Prior to September 2015, Nepal was divided into 5 Development regions. They were first-level of administrative divisions.[14]

Development Regions of Nepal
sr.Development RegionsNepali NameHeadquartersArea (km2.)Population (2011)
1Eastern Development Regionपुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र28,4565,811,555
2Central Development Regionमध्यमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्रKathmandu27,4109,656,985
3Western Development Regionपश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्रPokhara29,3984,926,765
4Mid-Western Development Regionमध्य पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्रBirendranagar42,3783,546,682
5सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्रDipayal19,5392,552,517
NepalनेपालKathmandu147,18126,494,504

Zones

There were 14 zones divided into 5 development regions. Each development region had 3 zones. Only the Far-Western Development Region had 2 zones.

Zones of Nepal
sr.RegionsZonesHeadquartersArea (km2.)Population (2011)
18,196 1,422,182
2Kosi Zone9,669 2,335,047
310,591 2,054,326
49,669 2,837,481
59,428 3,843,596
68,313 2,975,908
712,275 1,549,857
88,975 2,834,612
98,148 542,296
1010,482 1,456,202
1121,351 388,713
1210,545 1,701,767
1312,550 1,575,003
146,989 977,514
Nepal 14 Zones Kathmandu 147,181 26,494,504

Districts

There were 75 districts in Nepal before 2015. They were grouped together to form zones. 2 new districts formed after 2015. District Development Committees (DDCs) were established to carry out all the administrative as well as clerical functions of a district.

List of Districts (Zonewise):

Eastern Development Region

Mechi Zone

Outer Terai

Jhapa District (Chandragadhi)

Hill

Ilam District (Ilam)

Panchthar District (Phidim)

Mountain

Taplejung District (Phungling)

Koshi Zone

Outer Terai

Morang District (Biratnagar)

Sunsari District (Inaruwa)

Hill

Bhojpur District (Bhojpur)

Dhankuta District (Dhankuta)

Terhathum District (Myanglung)

Mountain

Sankhuwasabha District (Khandbari)

Sagarmatha Zone

Outer Terai

Saptari District (Rajbiraj)

Siraha District (Siraha)

Inner Terai

Udayapur District (Gaighat)

Hill

Khotang District (Diktel)

Okhaldhunga District (Okhaldhunga)

Mountain

Solukhumbu District (Salleri)

Central Development Region

Janakpur Zone

Outer Terai

Dhanusa District (Janakpur)

Mahottari District (Jaleswar)

Sarlahi District (Malangwa)

Inner Terai

Sindhuli District (Kamalamai)

Hill

Ramechhap District (Manthali)

Mountain

Dolakha District (Charikot)

Bagmati Zone

Hill

Bhaktapur District (Bhaktapur)

Dhading District (Dhading Besi)

Kathmandu District (Kathmandu)

Kavrepalanchok District (Dhulikhel)

Lalitpur District (Lalitpur)

Nuwakot District (Bidur)

Mountain

Rasuwa District (Dhunche)

Sindhupalchok District (Chautara)

Narayani Zone

Outer Terai

Bara District (Kalaiya)

Parsa District (Birgunj)

Rautahat District (Gaur)

Inner Terai

Chitwan District (Bharatpur)

Makwanpur District (Hetauda)

Western Development Region

Gandaki Zone

Hill

Gorkha District (Gorkha)

Kaski District (Pokhara)

Lamjung District (Besisahar)

Syangja District (Syangja)

Tanahun District (Byas)

Mountain

Manang District (Chame)

Lumbini Zone

Outer Terai

Kapilvastu District (Kapilvastu)

Nawalparasi District (Parasi)

Rupandehi District (Siddharthanagar)

Hill

Arghakhanchi District (Sandhikharka)

Gulmi District (Tamghas)

Palpa District (Tansen)

Daulagiri Zone

Hill

Baglung District (Baglung)

Myagdi District (Beni)

Parbat District (Kusma)

Mountain

Mustang District (Jomsom)

Mid-Western Development Region

Rapti Zone

Inner Terai

Dang District (Ghorahi)

Hill

Pyuthan District (Pyuthan Khalanga)

Rolpa District (Liwang)

Rukum District (Musikot)

Salyan District (Salyan Khalanga)

Karnali Zone

Mountain

Dolpa District (Dunai)

Humla District (Simikot)

Jumla District (Jumla Khalanga)

Kalikot District (Manma)

Mugu District (Gamgadhi)

Bheri Zone

Outer Terai

Banke District (Nepalganj)

Bardiya District (Gulariya)

Inner Terai

Surkhet District (Birendranagar)

Hill

Dailekh District (Narayan)

Jajarkot District (Khalanga)

Far-Western Development Region

Seti Zone

Outer Terai

Kailali District (Dhangadhi)

Hill

Achham District (Mangalsen)

Doti District (Dipayal)

Mountain

Bajhang District (Chainpur)

Bajura District (Martadi)

Mahakali Zone

Outer Terai

Kanchanpur District (Bhim Datta)

Inner Terai and Hill

Dadeldhura District (Dadeldhura)

Hill

Baitadi District (Baitadi)

Mountain

Darchula District (Darchula)

Municipalities

Municipalities are an administrative units to work in urban area. There were only 58 following Municipalities in Nepal before 2014.[15]

Village Development Committees

Formally, Villages were administered by Village development committees in Nepal. They were dissolved before the new constitution in 2015 and formed Gaunpalika.

National Association of Village Development Committees in Nepal (NAVIN) was established in the year 1996 as an umbrella organization to represent and provide support to Nepal's 3915 VDCs (Village Government in Nepal). In a short span of its origin, NAVIN has been able to establish itself, both nationally and internationally, as a reputable representative organization of VDCs and has founded itself as a pioneer partner organization for decentralization and democratization process in Nepal.[16] The Village Development Committee were defunct in March 2017 and replaced with Gaupalika

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kathmandu Post . 2017 . 744 new local units come into effect . Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. .
  2. Web site: Administratively Nepal is divided into 5 Regions, 14 Zones and 75 Districts. Population figure . digitallibrary.usc.edu . International Mission Photography Archive (IMPA) . 31 January 2018.
  3. Web site: 75 Districts 14 Zones and 5 Development Regions . www.weallnepali.com . 31 January 2018 . 28 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128225928/http://www.weallnepali.com/about-nepal/map-of-nepal . dead .
  4. Web site: Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Nepal - list and details . www.weallnepali.com . 31 January 2018 . 20 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022513/https://techsansar.com/vdc-nepal-list/ . dead .
  5. Web site: New Municipalities: A Decision Without Vision . nepaliheadlines.com . 31 January 2018.
  6. News: TIMELINE: Milestones in political history of Nepal. 28 May 2008. www.reuters.com. 6 February 2018. ..." ".
  7. Web site: Gorkhas Unrest in India and Their Nepal Connections. 16 July 2017. southasiajournal.net . 6 February 2018. ..."Historically, the present Indian Gorkhas territories, Darjeeling, and the surroundings were part of Nepal. The current border between Nepal and India was set after the former’s defeat at the hands of British in 1814 which led to the Treaty of Sugauli with Nepal losing the territories of Darjeeling to the East and Kumaon and Garhwal up to Sutlez river in the West.".
  8. Web site: http://ddcdhankuta.gov.np/ne-brief-introduction/ . ne:संक्षिप्त परिचय. ddcdhankuta.gov.np. Govt of Nepal. 6 February 2018. Short Intro. Nepali. ..."Nepali: श्री ५ राजेन्द्रविक्रम शाह र प्रधानमन्त्री भीमसेन थापाको शासनकालमा प्रशासनिक दृष्टिकोणले वि.सं.१८७३ साल पश्चात देश १० जिल्लामा विभाजन भयो।".
  9. Web site: Government of Nepal Act 1948.
  10. Web site: http://saruwa.moga.gov.np/mogawebsite/images/pdf/pratibedan/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%20%28%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%9A%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%29%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A8,%20%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF%20.pdf . ne:प्रशासकीय पुनर्गठन समिति (बुच कमिशन) को प्रतिवेदन, २००९ .
  11. Web site: http://saruwa.moga.gov.np/mogawebsite/images/pdf/pratibedan/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F,%20%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A9.pdf . ne:नेपालको जिल्ला प्रशासन पुनर्गठनको रिपोर्ट, २०१३.
  12. Web site: Memorial Step of King Mahendra in 1st Poush 2017 BS . 13 December 2017. reviewnepal.com. 6 February 2018. ..." ".
  13. Web site: Where is Nepal?. www.expeditionsnepal.com. 6 February 2018. ..." In 1972, King Birendra divided the nation into four development regions, 14 zones and 75 districts. He further divided nation and added one more development region in 1982. ". 21 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221083648/http://www.expeditionsnepal.com/where-is-nepal/. dead.
  14. Web site: Nepal population statistics . GeoHive.com . 2015-06-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704051158/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/nepal.aspx . 2015-07-04 .
  15. Web site: Municipalities and VDCs . www.geocities.ws/ . 28 May 2018.
  16. Web site: National Association of VDCs in Nepal . Navin.org.np . 2015-06-02 . 2015-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150620054316/http://www.navin.org.np/ . dead .