Administration in Arunachal Pradesh
Like other Indian states, Arunachal Pradesh operates on a three-tier administrative set up - state, district and sub-district level. The state government is made up of a Governor (who is appointed by the President of India), a Chief Minister and a Council of Ministers. The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the state legislature, is a unicameral assembly which consists of 60 members. The judiciary is represented on the district level through the Itanagar Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court.
The administrative machinery at the district level is led by a Deputy Commissioner (DC) who is the chief administrative officer and revenue officer. The DC will work in conjunction with other district level officers, including the Superintendent of Police (SP), District Education Officer (DEO), District Health Officer (DHO) and many others, in ensuring governance and ensuring the delivery of public services. In tribal areas there are traditional village councils and customary laws that are recognised in the framework of the Sixth Schedule and are recognised under Article 371(H) of the Indian Constitution.
Districts of Arunachal Pradesh
As of 2024, Arunachal Pradesh is divided into 28 administrative districts. These districts have been formed over time to improve governance and bring administration closer to people living in remote and inaccessible areas. Below is a list and brief overview of these districts:
Tawang: Located in the westernmost part of the state, it shares borders with Bhutan and Tibet (China). Known for its ancient Tawang Monastery and significant Buddhist population.
West Kameng: Lies adjacent to Tawang and is home to several Monpa tribes. The region is known for its biodiversity and scenic beauty.
East Kameng: Populated mainly by the Nyishi tribe, the district features mountainous terrain and is culturally rich.
Pakke Kessang: Carved out from East Kameng in 2018, it includes areas like Seijosa and Pakke Tiger Reserve.
Papum Pare: Houses Itanagar, the state capital, and is one of the more urbanized and densely populated districts.
Kra Daadi: Created in 2015 from Kurung Kumey, it includes many remote tribal areas and is under infrastructural development.
Kurung Kumey: Known for its difficult terrain and large tribal population, particularly the Nyishi community.
Kamle: One of the newly formed districts, established in 2017, with a focus on administrative decentralization.
Lower Subansiri: Headquarters at Ziro, known for the unique Apatani cultural heritage and rice-paddy fish farming system.
Upper Subansiri: A large district located in the north-central part of the state, with difficult terrain and limited road connectivity.
Shi Yomi: Created in 2018, this district was carved out of West Siang and shares a border with China.
West Siang: One of the largest districts, with the headquarters at Aalo. It is home to the Galo tribe.
East Siang: The district headquarters is Pasighat, one of the oldest towns in the state and a major educational hub.
Upper Siang: Known for the Siang River and remote tribal settlements, bordering Tibet.
Lower Siang: Formed in recent years to improve administrative access in the central-western part of the state.
Leparada: Carved out of West Siang in 2018, its headquarters is at Basar.
Dibang Valley: Sparsely populated, it includes high mountain ranges and the Mishmi Hills. The Idu Mishmi tribe inhabits this region.
Lower Dibang Valley: Headquartered at Roing, it is more developed compared to its northern counterpart.
Anjaw: One of the easternmost districts, known for its rugged terrain, Lohit river valley, and proximity to the Indo-China border.
Lohit: Once a larger district, it now functions independently with Tezu as its headquarters. Home to the Digaru and Mishmi tribes.
Namsai: Created in 2014 from Lohit, it is a Buddhist-majority district with increasing economic activities.
Changlang: Situated in the southeastern part, it is rich in biodiversity and shares a border with Myanmar.
Tirap: Along with Changlang and Longding, Tirap forms part of the region affected by ethnic unrest and insurgent activity.
Longding: Created in 2012 from Tirap, it is the homeland of the Wancho tribe and remains under socio-political development focus.
Siang: Formed in 2015 by combining parts of East and West Siang, aiming to streamline administration in the region.
Itanagar Capital Region: Though part of Papum Pare district administratively, Itanagar is treated as a separate capital region for civic management and planning.
Keyi Panyor: Carved out from the Lower Subansiri district, Keyi Panyor has its headquarters at Yachuli. The district encompasses 195 villages with a population exceeding 30,000, predominantly inhabited by the Nyishi tribe .
Bichom: Formed by amalgamating 27 villages from West Kameng and 28 villages from East Kameng districts, Bichom's administrative center is Napangphung. This district is primarily home to the Aka and Miji tribes .
Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the last destinations in India that can be described as unspoiled and pristine, moving from misty hills and verdant valleys to snow-capped mountains and flowing rivers. Arunachal Pradesh is not only a gem for scenic wonders but also with immense spiritual, cultural and historical significance. Arunachal Pradesh is famed for its scenic beauty, though a visitor's permit is required to visit the state from the Tourism Department. Rich in wildlife, with many options for adventure tourism like hiking and trekking, places of interest in Arunachal Pradesh include Tawang, Ziro, Sela Lake, Jawaharlal Nehru Museum and Bomdila with its bamboo bridge overhanging the river among other attractions.
That Indian citizens must obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) and foreign citizens must obtain a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to travel to the state, is an indication of the state’s strategic position in the world, bordering China, Bhutan and Myanmar. Over the last few years travel in Arunachal Pradesh has seen an upswing in both foreign and Indian tourism despite the restrictions given improved infrastructure and publicity.
In addition to its natural beauty, Arunachal Pradesh is a treasure trove of tribal cultures and traditions that enhance the travel experience. With more than 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, many with their own modes of dress, dialects, festivals, and festivals, it is not often that you will have the opportunity for such cultural immersion, especially during the time of year with festivals like Losar, Nyokum, Solung, Dree, and Siang River Festival, featuring traditional dances, songs, rituals, and cultural practices. No longer simply a marketing hook, Tibetan Buddhism also nimblely developed a sub-strategy of developing pilgrimage and religious tourism--and having both local people and the sake of local people's existence exemplified in their festivals of travel--the state is a demonstrated rich environment of potential.
Pilgrims travel across the world to experience the Tawang Monastery, the largest in India and the second-largest, most essential active monastery and related culture in a meeting of Himalayan and Tibetan cultures. The monastery is located at a height of close to 10,000 feet and has a magnificent panoramic view of the mountains and valleys surrounding the monastery. Namsai in the state also has the Golden Pagoda to showcase, as well as the Parshuram Kund pilgrimage, attracting tens of thousands to religiously-based travel each year.
For those interested in nature, Arunachal Pradesh is a biodiversity hotspot. The state has several protected areas including several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, such as the Mouling National Park, Namdapha National Park, and Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary. These protected areas contain a wide variety of flora and fauna, including species that are endangered, such as the red panda, the snow leopard, and Hoolock gibbons. Bird watchers can find ‘bird-watching paridise’ in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, where visitors can see hundreds of rare and endemic birds.
Eco-tourism initiatives are also being promoted that seek to conserve both the natural and cultural heritage while simultaneously providing livelihood sources to local communities. Many visitors are now using homestays and community owned eco-resorts for an authentic experience while limiting the environmental impact where appropriate. These opportunities help maintain the pristine appeal of Arunachal Pradesh while advancing the sustainable development goals.
FAQs
Q.1: How many tehsils or circles exist in Arunachal Pradesh?
There are over 170 tehsils or administrative circles in Arunachal Pradesh that function at the level of the 28 districts including both the local governance and local revenue and local planning to help in governance.
Q.2: What is a tehsil map used for?
A tehsil map helps in visualizing the required administrative divisions of the districts and administration of democracy including resource distribution of planning infrastructure and disaster responses at the sub-district level.
Q.3: What major tehsils can be seen in Arunachal Pradesh?
Some of the notable tehsils are Tawang, Pasighat (East Siang), Anini (Dibang Valley), Ziro (Lower Subansiri), Bomdila (West Kameng), and Mechuka (Shi-Yomi), known for cultural and strategic and ecological value.
Last Updated on: July 08, 2025
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