This volume studies the various forms of ethnic autonomy envisioned within and outside the purview of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It explores the role of the British Indian administration and the Constituent Assembly of India in the introduction and inclusion of the schedule and the special provisions granted under it. Drawing on case studies from the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Sikkim in Northeast India and Darjeeling in West Bengal, it examines whether the practice of granting autonomy has been able to fulfil the political aspirations of the ethnic communities and how far autonomy settles or eases conflict. It also discusses sub-state nationalism and if it can be accommodated within autonomy, and studies the views of the central government and state governments towards such autonomy.

An important contribution towards understanding India’s federal structure, the volume will be indispensable to students and researchers of politics, democracy, Indian Constitution, law, self-governance, political theory and South Asian studies.

M. Amarjeet Singh is Professor and Honorary Director at the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, where he teaches courses on social conflict, and society and politics of India’s Northeast. His research interests include conflict studies, identity politics and migration studies. He has worked at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi.