People's Commissariat

A People's Commissariat (Russian: народный комиссариат; Narkomat) was a structure in the Soviet state (in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, in other union and autonomous republics, in the Soviet Union) from 1917–1946 which functioned as the central executive body in charge of managing a particular field of state activity or a separate sector of the national economy; analogue of the ministry. As a rule, a People's Commissariat was headed by a People's Commissar (Russian: народный комиссар; Narkom), which is part of the government – the Council of People's Commissars of the appropriate level.

Commissariats were created as central organs of state administration when Soviet power was established in the republics in the territory of the former Russian Empire.

The number of People's Commissariats changed in accordance with the requirements of the current moment; overall it increased due to the separation of existing ones and the formation of new ones.