To which State in India does Article 371-A of the Indian Constitution give…

Concept

Article 371-A is one of the special provisions in Part XXI of the Indian Constitution that grants a named State protection for its distinct customary, social and land practices. Such an article ties the special status to one specific State, so the task is to recall which State that particular article names.

Application

Article 371-A was inserted by the 13th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1962, following the Sixteen-Point Agreement, and it applies to Nagaland. It provides that no Act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland in respect of Naga religious or social practices, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources, unless the Nagaland Legislative Assembly so decides by a resolution. Hence the State that Article 371-A protects is Nagaland.

Contrast

• Manipur is dealt with under Article 371-C, which provides for a committee of the Legislative Assembly for the Hill Areas - a different article and a different mechanism.

• Assam is covered by Article 371-B, which provides for a committee of the Assembly for the Tribal Areas; the Sixth Schedule autonomous councils also relate to Assam, not 371-A.

• Sikkim is dealt with under Article 371-F, the special provision added when Sikkim became a State in 1975.

Therefore, the State to which Article 371-A gives special provisions is Nagaland.