Nirmal district is an administrative district in the northern part of the Indian state of Telangana. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Nirmal, a settlement long known for its traditional wooden toys and lacquer paintings collectively branded as Nirmal art. The district was carved out as part of the comprehensive reorganisation of districts in Telangana in October 2016.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Telangana |
| Headquarters | Nirmal |
| Formed | 11 October 2016 |
| Parent district | Adilabad district |
| Region | Northern Telangana |
| Known for | Nirmal toys and paintings, Sri Ram Sagar Project area |
Before 2016, the area now constituting Nirmal district formed part of the larger undivided Adilabad district. On 11 October 2016 the Government of Telangana reorganised the state into a larger number of smaller districts to bring administration closer to the people, and Nirmal was notified as one of the new districts created from the southern portion of Adilabad. The reorganisation also created Komaram Bheem and Mancherial as separate districts in the same northern belt.
Nirmal district lies in the Godavari basin of northern Telangana. It is bordered by Adilabad district to the north, Nizamabad district to the south-west, Jagtial district to the south-east and Mancherial district to the east. The terrain is a mix of forested hills associated with the Sahyadri spurs and cultivated plains drained by the Godavari and its tributaries such as the Kadem and Swarna. Parts of the Kawal Tiger Reserve and reserved forests extend into the district.
The district is headed by a District Collector and Magistrate appointed by the state government, with a Superintendent of Police responsible for law and order. For revenue administration, the district is divided into revenue divisions and mandals, with Nirmal town serving as the principal urban centre. Other notable towns include Bhainsa, Khanapur and Kuntala.
The economy of Nirmal is predominantly agrarian. Major crops include cotton, paddy, soybean, maize, turmeric and pulses. Irrigation is supported by the Sri Ram Sagar Project on the Godavari, parts of whose command area lie within or adjoin the district, and by tank and lift irrigation systems. Handicrafts, particularly the lightweight toys carved from poniki wood and the lacquered Nirmal paintings, form a recognised cottage industry that has received Geographical Indication recognition.
Nirmal district occupies a strategic position on the highway corridor connecting Hyderabad with Nagpur via National Highway 44, making it an important transit zone between Telangana and central India. Its combination of forest cover, Godavari-fed irrigation and traditional crafts gives it a distinct identity within northern Telangana.