Autonomous administrative divisions of India

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions which have been given autonomy within their respective states.^[1] Most of these autonomous district councils are located in North East India with the exception of two in Ladakh and one in West Bengal. Presently, 10 Autonomous Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura are formed by virtue of the Sixth Schedule^[2] with the rest being formed as a result of other legislation.

Powers and competencies

Executive and legislative powers

Under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, autonomous district councils can make laws, rules and regulations in the following areas:^[1]

Land management
Forest management
Water resources
Agriculture and cultivation
Formation of village councils
Public health
Sanitation
Village and town level policing
Appointment of traditional chiefs and headmen
Inheritance of property
Marriage and divorce
Social customs
Money lending and trading
Mining and minerals

Judicial powers

Autonomous district councils have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes and the maximum sentence is less than 5 years in prison.^[1]

Taxation and revenue

Autonomous district councils have powers to levy taxes, fees and tolls on: building and land, animals, vehicles, boats, entry of goods into the area, roads, ferries, bridges, employment and income and general taxes for the maintenance of schools and roads.^[1]

List of autonomous administrative divisions

Autonomous district councils operating under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India are shown in bold.

Sl. No.	State/UT	Autonomous Council	Headquarters	Formation	Last Election	Chief Executive Member	Party of Chief Executive Member	Current Party Position
1	Assam	Bodoland Territorial Council	Kokrajhar	2003	2020	Pramod Boro	UPPL(NEDA)	Total-40 Govt:- UPPL-15 BJP-12 GSP-1 Opp:- BPF-12
2		North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council	Haflong	1951	2019	Debolal Gorlosa	BJP (NEDA)	Total-28 Govt:- BJP-25 Opp:- IND-3 NOM-2^[3]
3		Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council	Diphu	1952	2022	Tuliram Ronghang	BJP (NEDA)	Total-26 Govt:- BJP-26 Opp:- 0
4		Tiwa Autonomous Council	Morigaon	1995	2020	Jiban Chandra Konwar	BJP (NEDA)	Total-36 Govt:- BJP-33 AGP-2 Opp:- INC-1
5		Mising Autonomous Council	Dhemaji	1995	2019	Ranoj Pegu	SGS	Total-35 Govt:- SGS-29 BJP-5 Opp:- IND-1
6		Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council	Dudhnoi	1995	2019	Tankeswar Rabha	BJP (NEDA)	Total-36 Govt:- BJP+RHJMC-34 Opp:- INC-1 AGP-1
7		Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council	Dibrugarh	2005	2019	Dipu ranjan Markari	BJP (NEDA)	Total-26 Govt:- BJP-20 Opp:- INC-5 IND-1
8		Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council	Titabar	2005	2022	Kumud Ch Kachari	BJP (NEDA)	Total-22 Govt:- BJP-14 AGP-3 Opp:- INC-4 IND-1
9		Deori Autonomous Council	Narayanpur	2005	2022	Madhav Deori	BJP (NEDA)	Total-22 Govt:- BJP-11 AGP-1 Opp:- IND-8 INC-2
10		Moran Autonomous Council	Tinsukia	2020	–	Dipon Moran
11		Matak Autonomous Council	Chring Gaon	2020	–
12		Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council	Simen Chapori	2020	–	Mihiniswar Basumatary
13		Kamtapur Autonomous Council	Abhayapuri	2020	–	Jibesh Roy
14	Ladakh	Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil	Kargil	2003	2023	Mohammad Jaffer Akhone	Jammu & Kashmir National Conference	Total-30 Govt:- Jammu & Kashmir National Conference-10 Indian National Congress-8 Opp:- IND-5 BJP-3
15	Ladakh	Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh	Leh	1995	2020	Tashi Gyalson	Bhartiya Janata Party	Total-30 Govt:- Bhartiya Janata Party-16 Opp:- INC-9 IND-1
16	Manipur	Chandel Autonomous District Council	Chandel	1971^[4]	2015	Ksh. Siddharth, MCS
17		Churachandpur Autonomous District Council	Churachandpur	1971^[4]	2015	Lalthazam, MCS
18		Sadar Hills	Kangpokpi	1971^[4]	2015	James Doujapao Haokip, MCS
19		Manipur North Autonomous District Council	Senapati	1971^[4]	2015	H L Jain, MCS
20		Tamenglong Autonomous District Council	Tamenglong	1971^[4]	2015	Ningreingam Leisan^[5]
21		Ukhrul Autonomous District Council	Ukhrul	1971^[4]	2015	David Kashungnao, MCS
22	Meghalaya	Garo Hills Autonomous District Council	Tura	1973	2021	Benedick R Marak	NPP (NEDA)	Total-29 Govt:- National People's Party (India)-11 BJP-2 Garo National Council-1 IND-3 Opp:- AITC-12
23		Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council	Jowai	1973	2019	T Shiwat	National People's Party (India) (NEDA)	Total-29 Govt:- NPP-12 UDP-10 Opp:- INC-4 AITC-3
24		Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council	Shillong	1973	2019	Titosstarwell Chyne	National People's Party (India)(NEDA)	Total-29 Govt:- NPP-7 UDP-6 HSPDP-2 PDF-1 Opp:- INC-10 Oth:- AITC-3
25	Mizoram	Chakma Autonomous District Council	Kamalanagar	1972	2023	Rasik Mohan Chakma	MNF	Total-20 Govt:- MNF-12 Opp:- INC-6 BJP-1
26		Lai Autonomous District Council	Lawngtlai	1972	2020	V. Zirsanga	MNF	Total-25 Govt:- MNF-20 Opp:- IND-3 BJP-1 INC-1
27		Mara Autonomous District Council	Siaha	1972	2022	M Laikaw	BJP	Total-25 Govt: BJP -16 Opp:- INC - 4 MNF - 5
28	Tripura	Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council	Khumulwng	1982	2021	Purna Chandra Jamatia	TIPRA	Total-30 Govt:- TIPRA-18 IND-1 Opp:- BJP-9
29	West Bengal	Gorkhaland Territorial Administration	Darjeeling	2012	2022	Anit Thapa	BGPM	Govt:- BGPM-27 AITC-5 IND-3 Opp:- HP-8 IND-2

Legends
Party		ECI Recognition^[6]
AKRSU(K)	All Koch-Rajbanshi Students’ Union	N/A
AITC	All India Trinamool Congress	State Party
AGP	Asom Gana Parishad	State Party
BJP	Bharatiya Janata Party	National Party
BPF	Bodoland People's Front	State Party
GNC	Garo National Council	Registered Unrecognized Party
GSP	Gana Suraksha Party	Registered Unrecognized Party
HSPDP	Hill State People's Democratic Party	State Party
INC	Indian National Congress	National Party
JKNC	Jammu & Kashmir National Conference	State Party
KADF	Karbi Anglong Democratic Forum	N/A
MNF	Mizo National Front	State Party
NPP	National People's Party	National Party
PDF	People's Democratic Front	State Party
RHJMC	Rabha Hasong Joint Movement Committee	N/A
SGS	Sanmilita Gana Shakti	Registered Unrecognized Party
TIPRI	The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance	State Party
UDP	United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)	State Party
UPPL	United People's Party Liberal	State Party

De facto self-governing areas

North Sentinel Island

North Sentinel Island is situated in the island chain of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is a union territory of India. It is home to the Sentinelese people, who are among some of the world's last uncontacted peoples. They reject any contact with other people and are among the last people to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization. There has never been any treaty with the people of the island nor any record of a physical occupation.

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has stated^[7] that they have no intention of interfering with the Sentinelese's lifestyle or habitat. Although the island is likely to have suffered seriously from the effects of the December 2004 tsunami, the survival of the Sentinelese was confirmed when, some days after the event, an Indian government helicopter observed several of them, who shot arrows at the hovering aircraft to repel it.

Although this has not been done with any formal treaty, the official policy of minimal interference has ensured that they have de facto autonomy and sovereignty over their island under the framework of the central and local governments.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Sixth Schedule of The Constitution of India" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
^ "Union Cabinet approves amendment in Sixth Schedule to strengthen 10 North East autonomous councils". 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
^ "BJP sweeps Assam tribal council elections". The Hindu. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Autonomous District Councils Manipur in brief By Haokholal Hangshing". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
^ "MCS, MPS officers transferred : 16th jul22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
^ "ECI". Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.
^ The Sentineli Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
^ "Administration in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands has finally decided upon a policy of minimal interference". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2008.

External links

Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India

[COIS6-1] "Sixth Schedule of The Constitution of India" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.

[2] "Union Cabinet approves amendment in Sixth Schedule to strengthen 10 North East autonomous councils". 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2019.

[3] "BJP sweeps Assam tribal council elections". The Hindu. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

[:0k-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Autonomous District Councils Manipur in brief By Haokholal Hangshing". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.

[5] "MCS, MPS officers transferred : 16th jul22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

[6] "ECI". Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.

[7] The Sentineli Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.

[8] "Administration in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands has finally decided upon a policy of minimal interference". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2008.

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