Prior to the promulgation of a new constitution in 2015 after an earthquake, Nepal was divided into five development regions (Nepali: विकास क्षेत्र), 14 administrative zones (Nepali: अञ्चल) and 75 districts (Nepali: जिल्ला). The 14 administrative zones were grouped into five development regions. Each district is headed by a Chief District Officer (CDO) responsible for maintaining law and order and coordinating the work of field agencies of the various government ministries.
| Development Regions of Nepal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Federated state |
| Location | Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal |
| Number | 5 (as of 2037 B.S.) |
| Government |
|
| Subdivisions | |
The five development regions of Nepal were (from east to west):
| No. | English name | Nepali name | Zones | Districts (No.) | Headquarters | Population | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Development Region | पुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र | Mechi Koshi Sagarmatha | 16 | Dhankuta | 5,811,555 | 28,456 |
| 2 | Central Development Region | मध्यमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र | Janakpur Bagmati Narayani | 19 | Kathmandu | 9,656,985 | 27,410 |
| 3 | Western Development Region | पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र | Gandaki Lumbini Dhaulagiri | 16 | Pokhara | 4,926,765 | 29,398 |
| 4 | Mid-Western Development Region | मध्य पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र | Rapti Bheri Karnali | 15 | Birendranagar | 3,546,682 | 42,378 |
| 5 | Far-Western Development Region | सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र | Seti Mahakali | 9 | Dipayal | 2,552,517 | 19,539 |
King Birendra divided the entire Kingdom in 4 different regions in 2029 BS (1972).These regions were as below::
- Eastern Development Region,
- Central Development Region,
- Western Development Region,
- Far-Western Development region.
The three regions were:
- Himalyan region consisting of 16 districts.
- Hilly region consisting of 30 districts.
- Terai region consisting of 20 districts from east to west. (Jhapa, Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Bake, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur)
To fill the gap between different parts of the nation by balanced or proportionate development. Eight years later in 2037(1982), he further divided the nation adding one more separate development region naming it the mid-western development region taking two zones from Far Western Development region Seti and Mahakali.[1]