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| Province No. 2 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Province No. 2 |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Capital | Janakpur |
| Established | 2015 |
| Area km2 | 9661 |
| Population | 5000000 |
Province No. 2 is one of the provinces established by the Constitution of Nepal in 2015, with its administrative center at Janakpur. It lies in the Terai lowlands bordering India and includes diverse municipalities such as Birgunj, Bardibas, and Lahan. The province is a focal point for cross-border trade linked to Raxaul, cultural pilgrimage to Janaki Temple, and political movements associated with figures like Bishnu Prasad Paudel and parties including the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
The province’s numerical designation derives from the Constitution of Nepal's transitional arrangement following the 2015 Nepal earthquakes and the promulgation of federalism under the leadership of leaders such as KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Debates over a permanent name involved proposals referencing historical regions like Mithila and personalities connected to the Maithili language movement, with inputs from cultural organizations such as the Mithila Art and Culture Society and advocacy by activists linked to Satyendra Narayan Sinha and the Mithila State Movement. Committees chaired by provincial lawmakers, including representatives from the Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, have weighed options alongside constitutional scholars from Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University.
The province occupies part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain within the Terai and shares an international border with the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with border crossings near Raxaul and Sugauli. Major rivers include the Bagmati River, the Kamala River, and seasonal tributaries linked to the Ganges River basin, affecting agriculture in districts such as Dhanusa, Mahottari, and Sarlahi. The climate is subtropical with hot summers influenced by the South Asian monsoon and milder winters analogous to conditions in Patna and Varanasi, contributing to ecosystems comparable to those studied by institutions like the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and conservation projects associated with the World Wildlife Fund and BirdLife International.
The region has historical ties to the ancient kingdom of Mithila and to epics like the Ramayana, with archaeological sites linked to rulers such as Janaka and pilgrim traditions centered on the Janaki Temple. During colonial-era geopolitics, treaties including the Sugauli Treaty affected boundaries involving the Kingdom of Nepal and the British Raj, while 20th-century movements saw leaders from parties like the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) organize in Terai towns including Birgunj and Janakpur. Post-1990 democratic developments and the 2006 Loktantra Andolan influenced federal restructuring and the eventual 2015 constitutional provisions that created the numbered provinces.
The province is ethnolinguistically diverse, with communities speaking Maithili language, Bhojpuri language, Urdu language, and Nepali language, and with heritage groups such as the Madhesi people, Tharu people, and Yadav and Muslim communities present in urban centers like Birgunj, Janakpur, and Rajbiraj. Religious practices include Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism, with major pilgrimage sites like Janaki Temple and festivals observed such as Chhath and Vijayadashami. Social movements led by organizations like the Nepal Socialist Party and advocates tied to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted issues of representation, citizenship laws influenced by parliamentary acts debated in the Federal Parliament of Nepal, and healthcare access assessed by agencies such as the World Health Organization.
Under the Constitution of Nepal, the province exercises devolved authority through a provincial assembly seated in Janakpur and an executive headed by a Chief Minister, with parties such as the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal active in provincial politics. Administrative divisions follow districts like Dhanusa District, Mahottari District, and Saptari District, with municipal governance in Birgunj Metropolitan City and smaller rural municipalities structured per laws enacted by the Government of Nepal. Provincial institutions coordinate with national bodies including the Election Commission of Nepal and the Supreme Court of Nepal on issues ranging from electoral boundaries to judicial review.
Economic activity centers on agriculture—rice, wheat, sugarcane—and trade through border points such as Birgunj Customs Office and transport corridors linked to the East–West Highway and the Mechi-Mahakali Highway network. Industrial hubs in Birgunj include manufacturing and processing firms interacting with markets in Patna and Kolkata; financial services operate via banks like the Nepal Rastra Bank regulated institutions and remittance flows monitored by the World Bank. Infrastructure projects include rail proposals connecting to Raxaul railway station, road upgrades funded by agencies like the Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency, and energy initiatives such as cross-border electricity trade involving the Nepal Electricity Authority.
Cultural life is rich with Madhubani painting traditions, folk music genres performed during Chhath, and literary contributions in Maithili literature by authors associated with institutions like Tribhuvan University and Madrasah educational boards for Muslim scholarship. Educational infrastructure comprises campuses of Janakpur Multiple Campus, technical institutes affiliated with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, and schools following the National Examination Board curriculum. Cultural festivals such as Vivah Panchami and organizations including the Mithila Kala Academy promote arts, while higher education collaborations with universities like Kathmandu University and international partnerships foster research in agriculture and public health linked to programs by the Food and Agriculture Organization and UNICEF.
Category:Provinces of Nepal