Northeast Peace Accords

Armed groups have been active in parts of the Northeast for decades, and insurgency incidents in the region stood at 824 in 2014. Before 2019 the Home Ministry had signed an accord with the ANVC groups of Meghalaya (24 September 2014), after which 751 cadres surrendered, and a framework agreement with NSCN(IM) (3 August 2015). Disturbed-area notifications under AFSPA were withdrawn from Tripura with effect from 27 May 2015 and from Meghalaya from 1 April 2018. A settlement with NLFT(SD) of Tripura followed on 10 August 2019, and 88 of its cadres surrendered with 44 arms.

January 2020 brought two agreements: the Bru agreement (16 January) to settle displaced Bru families permanently in Tripura, and the Bodo Accord (27 January), after which 4,881 NDFB cadres joined the mainstream. The Karbi Accord followed on 4 September 2021, the Adivasi Peace Accord on 15 September 2022 and the DNLA agreement on 27 April 2023. On 29 November 2023 the UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group in Manipur, signed a peace agreement, the first such group to agree to return to the mainstream. The ULFA agreement was signed on 29 December 2023, and the NLFT and ATTF agreement on 4 September 2024, after which 918 cadres laid down arms.

Most accords are tripartite Memoranda of Settlement between the Union Government, the State government and the armed group. The group agrees to give up violence, surrender arms and disband, and the governments provide rehabilitation for cadres and, in several cases, a special development package. The Bru agreement gives each resettled family ₹4 lakh in a fixed deposit, free ration and ₹5,000 a month for two years, ₹1.5 lakh for housing and a plot of land. Border disputes between States are settled through Memoranda of Understanding: Assam and Meghalaya in 6 of 12 areas of difference (29 March 2022), and Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for 123 villages (20 April 2023).

Incidents rose from 201 in 2022 to 243 in 2023; the Home Ministry's Annual Report says Manipur accounted for about 77% of violent incidents in the region that year. In 2023, 1,595 cadres of various outfits surrendered with 459 arms. As of October 2025, AFSPA disturbed areas remained in 3 districts of Assam, 3 districts and parts of 1 more in Arunachal Pradesh, and 9 districts and 21 police stations of 5 other districts in Nagaland, while in Manipur the Act had been revoked from 13 police stations of 5 districts. On 5 February 2026 an agreement with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation provided for a Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority for six districts, with powers over 46 subjects.

824 → 243 insurgency incidents in the Northeast (2014 → 2023). 64% fewer incidents, 85% fewer security-force casualties and 86% fewer civilian deaths (2024 vs 2014). 9 peace accords listed by MHA (2014–2024). 4,881 Bodo, 1,926 Karbi, 1,182 Adivasi, 852 ULFA and 918 NLFT/ATTF cadres. 6,935 Bru families (37,584 persons) being rehabilitated. 10,900 cadres who surrendered weapons (Mar 2025). Sources: Ministry of Home Affairs (North East Division; Annual Report 2023-24); PIB.