Autonomous administrative divisions of India


In India, there are autonomously administered territories for Scheduled Tribes, administered by representatives of those tribes. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of Autonomous District Councils and Autonomous Regional Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, granting them autonomy within their respective territories. Currently, there are 10 Autonomous District Councils across these four states. In these areas, Acts of Parliament and state legislation do not apply.
Additionally, other autonomous councils, created by individual states through state legislation, exist in Northeast India, Ladakh, and West Bengal. Unlike those under the Sixth Schedule, these councils are subject to parliamentary and state laws.

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:
  • 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.

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.

Constitutional autonomous councils

There are 10 Autonomous District Councils created by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India:
StateBodyHeadquartersFormationLast ElectionRuling Party-
AssamBodoland Territorial CouncilKokrajhar20032025-
AssamDima Hasao Autonomous CouncilHaflong19522024-
AssamKarbi Anglong Autonomous CouncilDiphu19522022-
MeghalayaGaro Hills Autonomous District CouncilTura19732021-
MeghalayaJaintia Hills Autonomous District CouncilJowai19732025-
MeghalayaKhasi Hills Autonomous District CouncilShillong19732025-
MizoramChakma Autonomous District CouncilKamalanagar19722023Governor's rule
MizoramLai Autonomous District CouncilLawngtlai19722025-
MizoramMara Autonomous District CouncilSiaha19722022-
TripuraTripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District CouncilKhumulwng19822021-

Statutory autonomous councils

Some states have created autonomous councils by an Act of their state legislatures. The two autonomous councils in the union territory of Ladakh was created by the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
State/UTAutonomous CouncilHeadquartersFormationLast ElectionLast Ruling Party
AssamTiwa Autonomous CouncilMorigaon19952020BJP
AssamMising Autonomous CouncilDhemaji19952019SGS
AssamRabha Hasong Autonomous CouncilDudhnoi19952025RHJM
AssamSonowal Kachari Autonomous CouncilDibrugarh20052019BJP
AssamThengal Kachari Autonomous CouncilTitabar20052022BJP
AssamDeori Autonomous CouncilNarayanpur20052022BJP
AssamMoran Autonomous CouncilTinsukia2020
AssamMatak Autonomous CouncilChring Gaon2020
AssamBodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous CouncilSimen Chapori2020
AssamKamtapur Autonomous CouncilAbhayapuri2020
ManipurChandel Autonomous District CouncilChandel19712015NPF
ManipurChurachandpur Autonomous District CouncilChurachandpur19712015Ind
ManipurSadar Hills Autonomous District CouncilKangpokpi19712015INC
ManipurManipur North Autonomous District CouncilSenapati19712015NPF
ManipurTamenglong Autonomous District CouncilTamenglong19712015NPF
ManipurUkhrul Autonomous District CouncilUkhrul19712015NPF
MizoramSinlung Hills CouncilAizawl20182024MNF
LadakhLadakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, KargilKargil20032023JKNC
LadakhLadakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, LehLeh19952020BJP
West BengalGorkhaland Territorial AdministrationDarjeeling20122022BGPM

''De facto'' self-governing areas

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 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.