Reassessing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) with Kuki Armed Groups (Presentation)

The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and Kuki armed organisations has functioned as a conflict-management framework rather than a conflict-resolution mechanism. While it reduced insurgent violence and created a dialogue platform, it has not produced a final political settlement after nearly two decades.

The post-2023 ethnic conflict has further strained the legitimacy and functionality of the SoO. A strategic reset is required to move from ceasefire maintenance → structured political settlement.

Losses and Gains: How the Meitei, Naga, and Kuki-Zo Communities Have Been Reshaped Since the Violence of 3 May 2023

The violence that erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has left deep scars across the state’s social, political, and psychological landscape. Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the conflict has reshaped power equations, community relations, and political trajectories. While the losses are profound and visible, certain political and strategic shifts — perceived as “gains” — have also emerged for different communities. These gains, however, often come with long-term risks.

This moment in Manipur’s history is therefore not only about who suffered most, but also about how each community has been transformed.

The Kuki-Zo standpoints, present status, and possible political pathways from an analytical perspective

Since the ethnic violence of May 2023, Kuki-Zo civil bodies, MLAs, and SoO groups have converged on the political demand for “Separate Administration under the Constitution of India.” The demand was framed primarily around security failure, loss of trust in the Manipur state government, and the need for neutral governance. De facto territorial separation - buffer zones and segregated habitation has reinforced the political imagination of administrative bifurcation. Engagement preference has shifted from the state government to direct negotiation with the Union Government. Multiple constitutional models are discussed: Union Territory, Autonomous State, or expanded Sixth Schedule autonomy. Presently, there is partial administrative disengagement from state institutions in Kuki-Zo hill areas. The movement draws strength from ethnic consolidation, legislator backing, and alignment with SoO armed groups. Key constraints include Naga territorial overlaps, constitutional complexity, and Delhi’s reluctance to set precedents. Likely pathways include phased negotiations, interim autonomous arrangements, and tripartite peace accords. Overall trajectory suggests a long-term, negotiation-driven autonomy process rather than immediate territorial reorganisation.

AI in the Contemporary World: A Turning Point for Humanity

Artificial Intelligence has moved beyond the realm of science fiction and technological speculation. It now sits at the center of contemporary life, influencing how societies function, how governments govern, how economies grow, and how individuals live and work. The world today is not merely adopting AI; it is being reshaped by it.

In everyday life, AI operates quietly but powerfully. From search engines and digital payments to navigation systems and online shopping recommendations, the technology has become woven into the routines of modern living. Most users engage with AI without even realizing it, relying on its ability to predict, suggest, and automate. This invisible integration signals a profound shift: technology is no longer just a tool—it is a companion to human decision-making.

When a Drunken Brawl Becomes a Communal Flashpoint: Lessons from the Litan Incident

The recent incident in Litan, where an individual-level drunken altercation spiralled into a communal confrontation, is yet another stark reminder of how fragile the law-and-order situation remains in Manipur. What should have remained a localised dispute between individuals quickly acquired a dangerous communal colour, exposing the deep mistrust, accumulated trauma, and administrative fragility that continue to define the state’s current reality.

At its core, the episode reflects a disturbing truth: in Manipur today, even the smallest spark can ignite a wider blaze. A drunken act, a personal insult, or a momentary provocation is no longer just an isolated occurrence. It is interpreted through the lens of identity, insecurity, and historical grievance. This is not merely a failure of individuals—it is a failure of the environment in which they are forced to live.

The Danger of Communalizing Local Issues in a Tribal Mosaic Like Manipur

Manipur, often described as a miniature mosaic of tribes and communities, stands as one of India’s most culturally intricate states. Its hills and valleys are home to diverse ethnic groups, each with distinct histories, customary laws, dialects, and socio-political aspirations. This diversity, when nurtured, forms the bedrock of resilience and cultural richness. But when local issues are communalized—when individual or localized disputes are framed as conflicts between entire tribes—the consequences can be devastating.

Stipends, Ceasefires, and the Contradiction of Separate Administration Demands

In conflict-affected regions, peace is rarely a straight road. It is negotiated, fragile, and often deeply paradoxical. One such paradox confronting the public today is this: How can armed groups receive government stipends under ceasefire arrangements while simultaneously demanding separate administration or political autonomy? To many citizens, this appears contradictory - even unjust. Yet the reality is more layered.

Government stipends to armed groups do not emerge from generosity, nor are they rewards for past militancy. They are instruments of conflict management, embedded within ceasefire or Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements. Under such arrangements, armed groups agree to halt hostilities, confine themselves to designated camps, and suspend recruitment and offensive operations. In return, the state provides subsistence support - stipends, rations, and camp maintenance - to prevent cadres from returning to insurgency while political dialogue continues.

Resignation or Representation? The Kuki-Zo MLAs’ Dilemma in Post-President's Rule

The restoration of a popular government in Manipur on 4 February 2026, after months of President’s Rule, has reopened a difficult and deeply consequential question: should Kuki-Zo Members of the Legislative Assembly resign their seats in response to sustained public pressure from sections of their own community?

To Lose Patience Is to Lose the Battle

“To lose patience is to lose the battle”, Mahatma Gandhi once observed - an insight that feels deceptively simple yet carries profound political, moral, and personal weight. In an age defined by instant gratification, outrage cycles, and performative anger, Gandhi’s words arrive not as a relic of the past but as a sharp rebuke to the present.

Patience, in Gandhi’s philosophy, was never passive endurance. It was disciplined strength. It was the ability to absorb provocation without surrendering one’s moral ground. In the long struggle against colonial rule, Gandhi understood that impatience - especially when fueled by rage - would fracture unity, justify repression, and derail the ethical legitimacy of resistance. The British Empire could be challenged not merely by force, but by moral stamina that outlasted its arrogance.

Union Budget 2026 and the Scheduled Tribes

The Union Budget 2026–27 places Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the centre of India’s inclusive growth agenda by strengthening investments in education, livelihoods, entrepreneurship and tribal area development. With a total allocation of about ₹15,422 crore for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Budget reinforces long-term structural support through flagship interventions such as Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), expanded pre- and post-matric scholarships, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) for livelihoods, and targeted entrepreneurship support, including the Venture Capital Fund for STs. Major village-level initiatives like the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and constitutional grants under Article 275(1) further aim to bridge infrastructure and service gaps in Scheduled Areas. Overall, Budget 2026 signals a shift from welfare-only approaches towards empowerment, capability building and sustainable economic participation of tribal communities in the national development process.