Consider the following milestones in the constitutional evolution of Arunachal Pradesh: 1. The enactment of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 converted NEFA into a Union Territory named Arunachal Pradesh. 2. The first elected Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh was established immediately upon attaining Union Territory status in 1972. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of 1971 reorganized the northeastern region, transforming NEFA into the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh effective January 1972. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Union Territory initially had a Pradesh Council and later a Legislative Assembly with provisional arrangements, with the first full-fledged Legislative Assembly taking formal shape subsequently leading towards statehood in 1987. Representative democratic institutions evolved progressively through advisory councils.