Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeast India, with its capital at Itanagar, and its name translates to 'Dawn-Lit Mountain Province'. The state, which covers an area of 83,743 square km, shares international borders with Bhutan, the Tibetan region of China, and Myanmar. Historically, the region was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) during the British colonial era. It was converted into a Union Territory and renamed Arunachal Pradesh on January 20, 1972, and subsequently became the 24th state of the Indian Union on February 20, 1987, through the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986.
The state operates under special constitutional provisions, primarily Article 371H, which was inserted by the 55th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1986. This provision grants the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh a special responsibility for law and order. In discharging this function, the Governor may exercise individual judgment after consulting the Council of Ministers, and this decision is final. A key mechanism for protecting the indigenous tribal communities is the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, which regulates the entry of non-residents into the state. The ILP system traces its origin to the colonial-era Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. Arunachal Pradesh's special status under Article 371H is an example of India's policy of asymmetric federalism. Recently, the state has undergone administrative changes, including the creation of six new districts. Furthermore, in May 2026, the administration announced a move to create a separate dedicated ILP Department to strengthen the system and better protect indigenous rights. The state remains a point of contention, as China claims the territory as Southern Tibet.