Manipur's Proposal to Remove 'Any Kuki Tribes' from ST List: Understanding the Controversy and Its Implications

Nov 24, 2025 01:24 am CST

The Manipur government has formally requested the removal of the 'Any Kuki Tribes' category from the state's Scheduled Tribes list, arguing it's a redundant classification that enables illegal immigration. This proposal, pending since February 2023, has been met with hesitation from the Tribal Affairs Ministry due to the region's sensitive ethnic tensions. While the state government maintains no tribes would lose ST status as they're already listed individually, the Ministry has kept the matter on hold amid ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflicts that began in May 2023. This article examines the historical context, constitutional processes, and complex tribal identity issues at the heart of this controversial proposal.