NORTH EAST FRONTIER AGENCY

1. About

• Before the promulgation of the 'Constitution of India, the areas of present Arunachal Pradesh were then called the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), which was administered under provisions of the Government of India Act 1935. 
• On 26 January 1950, the Ministry of External Affairs took over the administration of NEFA, relieving the Government of Assam. 
• The Governor of Assam, was the representative of the President of India, under provisions of the 6th Schedule (Part B) of the Constitution of India.
• The area was bifurcated into five Divisions; namely, Kameng Frontier Division, Subansiri Frontier Division, Lohit Frontier Division, Siang Frontier Division and Tirap Frontier Division. 
• The administrative control of NEFA was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs with effect from 1 August 1965. 
• With the transfer of the Territory to the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Divisions named above were also re-designated as Districts, and the Political Officers who were in charge of the Divisions became Deputy Commissioners.
• During the British Colonial Rule, until 1972, the state was named the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).
• On 21 January 1972, the Territory was reconstituted as the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh under the provisions of Section 7 of the North Eastern Area Reorganization Act 1971. From the same date, the President began administering the Territory through an Administrator (then called the Chief Administrator) appointed under the provisions of Article 259 of the Constitution. An Agency Council also came into being with effect from 21/1/1972 with an advisory function.
• On 15 August 1975, the provisions of the Union territory Act 1963 were applied to the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh, and the former Pradesh Council became the Provisional Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. 
• In place of the Chief Administrator, the Administrator of the Territory came to be the Lt. Governor. A Council of Ministers was sworn in on 15 August 1975.
• On 20 February 1987, the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh was reconstituted as the State of Arunachal Pradesh comprising the territories which immediately before that day were included in the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh under the Provisions of Section-3 of the Arunachal Pradesh Act - 1986.

2. Geography of Arunachal Pradesh

The state was formed out of Assam in the year 1987.

• In the west, Arunachal Pradesh is bordered by Bhutan and in the north falls the Tibetan region of China.
• In the Southeastern region falls Nagaland and Myanmar and in the southwestern region falls Assam.
• The capital of Arunachal Pradesh is Itanagar.
• The total literacy rate of the state (as per Census 2011) is 65.38% with the male literacy rate being 72.55% and for females, it is 57.70%.
• The Sex Ratio of the states is 938 females per 1000 males (National: 943)
• The state is home to 26 major tribes, there are more than 100 sub-tribes, many of them are still unexplored. About 65% of the population of the state is tribals.
• Mostly the population of the state depends on Agriculture, mainly Jhum cultivation (slash and burn cultivation).

3. Prominent Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh

• The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification) Order (1956 and as inserted by Act 69 of 1986) lists twelve tribes of Arunachal Pradesh explicitly, but makes explicit that the list is non-exhaustive by noting that "all tribes of the State, including" those listed are to be considered "Scheduled". 

• There are 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. The twelve tribes listed are:

• Adi (Abor), 
• Aka, Apatani, 
• Nyishi, 
• Tagin, 
• Galo, 
• Khampti, 
• Mishmi, 
• Momba (Monpa), 
• "any Naga tribes", 
• Sherdukpen, 
• Singpho.

4. Cultural Aspects

• Chapchar Kut: It is a Spring Festival, most popular and celebrated after the completion of the task of jungle clearing for “jhum” operations.
• Mim Kut: It is a Maize festival that is celebrated during the months of August and September, after the harvest of maize.
• The most colourful and distinctive dance of the Mizo is called Cheraw. Long bamboo staves are used for this dance, therefore many people call it ‘Bamboo Dance’.