Kamjong is a district in the Indian state of Manipur, situated in the eastern part of the state along the international border with Myanmar. It was carved out as a separate district in December 2016, when the Government of Manipur reorganised existing districts to create seven new ones. The district headquarters is located at Kamjong town.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| State | Manipur |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Kamjong |
| Created | December 2016 |
| Parent district | Ukhrul |
| International border | Myanmar (east) |
Prior to its creation, the area now constituting Kamjong district formed the southern part of Ukhrul district. The region is predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community, with smaller populations of other communities residing in pockets across the district. The terrain is largely hilly, forming part of the Manipur Hills, and includes forested tracts and river valleys.
On 8 December 2016, the Government of Manipur, then headed by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, announced the creation of seven new districts in the state. Kamjong was one of them, separated from Ukhrul. The reorganisation was aimed at improving administrative reach in remote and border areas. The announcement triggered protests in some hill districts, particularly from Naga civil society organisations that opposed bifurcation of existing districts without prior consultation.
Kamjong district lies in the eastern hill belt of Manipur. It shares an international boundary with the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Within Manipur, it is bordered by Ukhrul district to the north and the Imphal valley districts and Tengnoupal district to the west and south. The district is drained by tributaries of the Chindwin river system, with the Yu river flowing along sections near the international border.
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner based at Kamjong. It is divided into subdivisions including Kamjong, Kasom Khullen, Phungyar, and Sahamphung. Border villages within the district fall under the jurisdiction of the Assam Rifles for security and border management.
The population is largely tribal, with the Tangkhul Naga forming the majority. Christianity is the predominant religion, introduced through missionary activity in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Traditional festivals associated with agricultural cycles, along with church-centred social life, characterise community activity. Shifting cultivation (jhum) and terraced rice farming remain the principal livelihoods, supplemented by horticulture.
Kamjong holds strategic importance because of its location along the India–Myanmar border. The district falls within the area covered by the Free Movement Regime that historically permitted limited cross-border movement of residents living near the boundary. It is also part of policy discussions on connectivity projects linking Northeast India with Southeast Asia under India's Act East Policy.