Syllabus: GS: II & V: Constitution

Why in the news?

The 24th Bodoland Accord Day was observed across the Bodoland Territorial Region in February 2026, marking 24 years since the signing of the historic 2003 Bodoland Territorial Council Accord.

Remembering the roots of the Accord

• The Bodoland movement emerged from long-standing demands of the Bodo people for political autonomy, cultural protection, and economic development.
• Years of agitation and armed conflict disrupted life in western Assam.
• The breakthrough came on 10 February 2003, when the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and the Bodo Liberation Tigers signed the BTC Accord.

What the 2003 Bodoland Accord achieved

• Creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Establishment of a 46-member autonomous council with legislative, executive, and financial powers.
• Territorial jurisdiction over Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa, Tampulpur and Chirang districts with Kokrajhar as the headquater.
• Formal end to armed insurgency and mainstreaming of former militants.
• Institutional space for self-governance within the Indian Union.

Tributes and collective memory

• Floral tributes were paid to Upendra Nath Brahma, revered as Bodofa and the chief architect of the Bodoland movement.
• Homage was also offered to Kalicharan Brahma and other leaders and martyrs.
• The day symbolised sacrifice, reconciliation, and political maturity.

From BTC to BTR: the 2020 turning point

• Despite peace, dissatisfaction persisted over incomplete implementation of the 2003 Accord.
• Groups like the All Bodo Students’ Union revived demands for greater political rights.
• This culminated in the Third Bodo Accord (2020), which:
  • Renamed the area as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
  • Expanded administrative and financial powers.
  • Promised accelerated development and cultural safeguards.

Implementation: progress and pending issues

• As per the Union Home Minister’s statement in March 2025, around 82 per cent of the Accord clauses have been implemented.
• Key gains include:
  
  • Sustained peace and decline in insurgency.
  • Expansion of education, road connectivity, and welfare schemes.
  • Improved political participation and local governance.
• Unresolved concerns remain:
  • Full rehabilitation of over 2,600 former militants.
  • Pending Scheduled Tribe (Hills) status for Boro Kacharis in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
  • Need for inclusive development benefiting non-Bodo communities within BTR.

Bodoland Accord vs Assam Accord

• The relative success of the Bodoland Accord contrasts sharply with the Assam Accord of 1985.
• Clause 5 (detection and deportation of illegal immigrants) and Clause 6 (constitutional safeguards for Assamese identity) remain largely unimplemented.
• This comparison highlights how political will, clarity of objectives, and institutional mechanisms determine outcomes of peace accords.

Key terms explained

• Sixth Schedule: Constitutional provisions granting autonomy to tribal areas through elected councils.
• Autonomous Council: A self-governing body with powers over local administration and development.
• Insurgency mainstreaming: Process of integrating former militants into civil life.
• Ethnic accommodation: Political arrangements recognising identity-based aspirations.
• Peace Accord: A negotiated settlement to end conflict and restore normalcy.

One-line wrap

The Bodoland Accord stands as a rare example where constitutional autonomy, dialogue, and sustained political commitment transformed a conflict zone into a region of relative peace and hope.

Exam Hook – 

“The success of the Bodoland Accord highlights the role of autonomy and inclusive governance in resolving ethnic conflicts.” Examine, with reference to the Northeast.

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