President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, January 21, extended her warm greetings to the people of Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur, on the occasion of the 54th Statehood Day, hailing their rich cultural legacy, vibrant traditions, and remarkable contributions to the nation's development.
Manipur, Meghalaya And Tripura Statehood Day 2026
North East India, often referred to as the "Seven Sisters," comprises seven states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Today, January 21, 2026, marks the 54th Statehood Day for Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura, commemorating the day in 1972 when they became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971.
The Statehood Day is celebrated with immense fervour across all three states, featuring vibrant cultural programs, parades, and traditional dances that showcase each region's rich heritage.
While residents take pride in their shared history and the remarkable contributions that each states bring to the Indian union, the day also serves as a moment to reflect on the challenges these states face. To understand the modern challenges, let's take a look at the formation of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura.
Formation Of Manipur, Meghalaya And Meghalaya
At the time of independence, North East India comprised the Assam plains of the old Assam province, several hill districts, and the North Eastern Frontier Tracts (NEFT) of the North-Eastern border. The princely states of Manipur and Tripura were merged into India in 1949 and were first labelled as Union Territories.
According to a PIB report, Nagaland was granted statehood a few years later, in 1963. According to the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution, Meghalaya was made an autonomous state within a state inside Assam in 1969 through the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act 1969, before becoming a full-fledged state in 1972 at the same time as Tripura and Meghalaya.
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Finally, on January 21, 1972, the northeastern states of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Re-organisation) Act, 1971.
The region of Mizo Hills and the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) were first converted into Union Territories in 1972. Following a peace agreement in 1986, Mizoram became a full-fledged state in 1987. During that same year, NEFA was also granted full statehood and renamed Arunachal Pradesh.
(With Inputs From PIB)