THE NORTHEAST EXCEPTIONALISM ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF THE NORTHEAST AS PROVIDED UNDER ARTICLE 371 OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

India's northeast presents a vibrant picture of India with Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim intersecting the gateway to south Asia. Found on the basis of the asymmetrical model of federalism, Article 371 (A-C and G-H) aims to safeguard this ancestral tribal land, their customs and traditions from the mainstream region. These constitutional safeguards were designed to integrate northeast with the rest of India and preserve the local needs of the region, thus striking a balance between national integration and administrative autonomy. The historical geographical and social context were examined while addressing the constitutional mandate in this paper. The paper dives to address the rationale of the provisions providing detailed examination of each provision. The paper in the aims to provide a critical analysis of federalism in India and its impact on northeastern regions. it also deals with the question of abrogation and provides critically evaluates the significance of the provisions.