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 77 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.
The five development regions of Nepal were (from east to west):
King Birendra divided the entire kingdom into four different regions in 2029 BS (1972):
Eastern Development Region
Central Development Region,
Western Development Region
Far-Western Development Region
The three regions were:
Himalayan region, consisting of 21 districts
Hilly region, consisting of 35 districts
Terai region, consisting of 21 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]