Syllabus: GS–  I & V: Modern Indian History

Why in the News?

The year 2026 marks 200 years of the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826), signed after the First Anglo-Burmese War. 

• The treaty formally ended Burmese control over Assam and brought the region under the East India Company, fundamentally reshaping the political, social and economic landscape of Northeast India.

What Was the Treaty of Yandaboo?

The Treaty of Yandaboo was signed on 24 February 1826 between the British East India Company and the Burmese Empire. The Treaty inter alia covered the following important issues:

• Assam, Manipur, Arakan, Taninthai were ceded to the British.
• The Burmese had to cease interference in the Chachar Kingdom and Jaintia Hills.
• Burmese agreed to pay an indemnity of One million Pounds sterling to the British.
• Burmese agreed to allow diplomatic representatives from the British.
• Burmese also agreed to sign a commercial treaty in due course of time.

Consequence of the Treaty

• It ended the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826).
• It marked the beginning of formal colonial rule in Assam.

Before this treaty, the “Northeast” did not exist as a unified administrative entity. The region consisted of diverse kingdoms, chiefdoms and tribal polities governed by customary laws.

Colonial Reordering of Land and Space

One of the most lasting impacts of the treaty was the transformation of land systems.

• Communal and customary land ownership was converted into surveyed and revenue-based systems.
• Forests were declared reserved forests under colonial forest laws.
• Shifting cultivation areas were labelled “wastelands”.
• Flexible boundaries were replaced by fixed administrative borders.

This reclassification disrupted indigenous livelihoods and laid the foundation for many present-day land conflicts.

Legal Pluralism and Governance

The British introduced a system of legal pluralism, selectively recognising customary laws while imposing uniform administrative structures.

Independent India attempted to address this through:

• The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting autonomy to tribal areas.
• Special provisions under Article 371A (Nagaland) and Article 371G (Mizoram).

However, tensions between customary institutions and statutory law continue to create governance challenges.

Migration and Identity Politics

Colonial policies encouraged migration for tea plantations, oil fields and administration. Movement from Bengal and central India significantly altered demographic patterns.

Instruments like the Inner Line Permit system later regulated mobility. Over time, migration became politicised, shaping debates on indigeneity, citizenship and identity in Assam, Tripura and Manipur.

Environmental and Developmental Legacy

Colonial forest laws weakened community-based ecological management. Today:

• Land acquisition for dams, highways and oil exploration often leads to disputes.
• Customary rights remain legally insecure in many hill areas.
• Development projects frequently bypass traditional village councils.

Key Concepts Explained

• Treaty of Yandaboo: 1826 agreement ending the First Anglo-Burmese War.
• Legal Pluralism: Coexistence of customary and statutory legal systems.
• Sixth Schedule: Constitutional provision granting autonomy to tribal areas.
• Inner Line Permit: Travel regulation mechanism for certain Northeast states.
• Reserved Forest: Forest classified under state control with restricted access.

Exam Hook: 

• Treaty signed in 1826 after the First Anglo-Burmese War.
• Marked beginning of British rule in Assam.
• Introduced revenue settlements and forest laws.
• Influenced identity politics and migration debates.
• Shaped constitutional safeguards in Northeast India.

Mains Question

Discuss the long-term political and socio-economic consequences of the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826) on Northeast India.

One-line wrap: The Treaty of Yandaboo did not just redraw borders—it reshaped land, law and identity in Northeast India for two centuries and beyond.

SOURCE