Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

News: Kuki leaders in Assam’s Karbi Anglong have agreed to surveys in their villages to check for people from Manipur. Karbi Anglong is governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

About Sixth Schedule

• Article 244(2) of the Indian Constitution provides for the Sixth Schedule that applies to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• The Sixth Schedule provides for the establishment of autonomous district councils (ADCs) or regional autonomous councils (RCs) to govern these areas.

Key features of Sixth Schedule

Autonomous Districts and Autonomous Regions:

• The Governor is empowered to organize and reorganize the autonomous districts.
• He can also increase, decrease the boundaries or alter the name of any autonomous district.
• If an autonomous district is inhabited by different Scheduled Tribes, the Governor can divide the district into separate Autonomous Regions.

Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Autonomous Regional Councils (ARCs):

• Composition of ADCs– ADCs consists of not more than thirty members, with four nominated by the Governor and the rest elected. The Bodoland Territorial Council is an exception, allowing up to forty-six members.
• ARC’s– A separate Regional Council shall be established for each area designated as an autonomous region.
• Powers-Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Autonomous Regional Councils (ARCs) oversee land use, inheritance laws, and social customs. They possess legislative, executive, and financial powers, including the authority to collect taxes and manage local resources.

Exemptions and Modifications- Acts of Parliament or state legislatures may not apply directly or may apply with modifications.