Divisions of Assam

Assam has four regional divisions, each comprising a number of districts. The administrator responsible for the administration of a division is called a Divisional Commissioner.

In 1874, Assam was constituted as a Chief Commissioner's province with the seat of government in Shillong. To better administer the six districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Sonitput, Nagong, Sibsagar and Lakhimpur, (the districts in the Brahmaputra valley, also called Assam Valley), the Judge of Assam Valley were given the additional charge of a commissioner in 1880.[1] In 1905, the offices of the Judge and Commissioner were separated in the Assam Valley;[2] and in addition a separate Commissioner was installed for the Hill Districts and Surma Valley.[3]

List of Divisions

Present Divisions

Division Name Divisional Office Districts
North Assam Tezpur Udalguri, Darrang, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Marigaon
Lower Assam Panbazar Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Baksa, Chirang, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup Rural, Kamrup Metro
Upper Assam Jorhat Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat
Hills and Barak Valley Dispur Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj

Proposed Divisions

Division Name Divisional Office Districts
Bodoland Kokrajhar Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri
Lower Assam Guwahati Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup Rural, Kamrup Metro
Upper Assam Jorhat Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia
North Assam Tezpur Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji
Hills and Central Assam Nagaon Marigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao
Barak Valley Silchar Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj

List of Municipal Corporations

Present Municipal Corporation: 1

Proposed Municipal Corporation: 6

Notes

  1. ↑ "In 1879, Sir Bayley, therefore, proposed to the Government of India that the Judge of Assam Valley to be the ex-officio Commissioner of Assam Valley. High Court objected to the proposal. But Government of India approved the scheme and the Chief Commissioner invested the Judge of Assam with the powers of a Commissioner of a Division." (Bose 1985, p. 32)
  2. ↑ (Bose 1985, p. 33)
  3. ↑ (Bose 1985, p. 36)

References

  • Bose, M L (1985). Development of Administration in Assam. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company.