The United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District come into existence on 17.11.1951. Before that the area formed parts of Nagaon District, Sivasagar District, United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District and Cachar District. The District was formed by combining partially excluded areas of Nagaon and erstwhile Sivasagar (Mikir Hills Tract), Block-I and Block-II of   United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District and North Cachar Hills (excluded area) Sub-Division of Cachar District, on the recommendation of Commission appointed for the purpose vide Notification No.TAD/R/31/50, dtd. 03.10.1950. Historically this area was administered by British a bit differently, in the sense that Govt. of India Act, 1919 classified these areas as Backward tract and Govt. of India Act, 1935 classified them as excluded and partially excluded areas.After independence, Constitution of India also maintained the special status by way of provisions contained in Sixth Schedule. As per provisions of the Sixth Schedule, Karbi Anglong District Council was constituted on 23.06.1952 with its headquarter at Diphu which was formally inaugurated by Late Bishnuram Medhi, the then Chief Minister of Assam. Constitution of India vested upon the District Councils some Legislative, Executive and Judicial functions.With effect from 1st June, 1970, almost all the Development Departments of the Govt. of Assam functioning in the Karbi Anglong District have been placed under the Administrative control of the Karbi Anglong District Council. Functioning of sixth schedule however continued to be marred by District Council's incompetence and state's indifference etc. Accumulation of grievances and new aspiration of tribal youths to have economic power gave birth to various movements for implementation of Article 244(A) of the Constitution. As a result, an M.O.U. was reached between Govt. of Assam and movement leaders on 01.04.1995 and in pursuance of that M.O.U., Govt. of  Assam   vide its Notification No.HAD.57/95/63-64, dtd.29.06.1995 entrusted 30(thirty) more departments to Karbi Anglong District  Council those are:-

1. Industry

2. Animal Husbandary & Veterinary 

3. Forest

4. Agriculture

5. P.W.D.

6. Sericulture

7. Education  : a) Primary Education upto the level of Higher Secondary Education.

                          b) Adult Education

8. Cultural Affairs

9. Soil Conservation 

10. Co-operation

11. Fisheries 

12. Panchayat & Rural Development including DRDA. 

13. Handloom & Textile 

14. Health & family Welfare 

15. Public Health Engineering

16. Irrigation  

17. Social Welfare

18. Flood Control 

19. Sports & Youth Welfare 

20. Weight & Measures

21. Food & Civil Supplies 

22. Town & Country Planning 

23. College Education (General) , Including Library Services , District Museum and Archaeology 

24. Land Reforms 

25. Publicity / Public Relation

26. Printing & Stationery

27. Tourism 

28. Transport 

29. Excise 

30. Finance including Sales Tax on purchase of goods other than Newspapers , Excise, Professional Tax.         

                          It may be mentioned that consequent upon the M.O.U.,the name of the Karbi Anglong District Council was renamed as "Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council(KAAC)".As per the recent arrangements, the Secretariat cell of KAAC is headed by a Principal Secretary in the rank of Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam ; 2(two) Secretaries in the rank of Secretary to the Government of Assam (one of whom from a Technical Department) ; 3(three) Deputy Secretaries (one of whom from a technical Department and remaining ones from the Assam Civil Services), all are to be placed under the disposal of KAAC by Govt. of Assam. Besides, Council have also a few officers under Council sector like Deputy Secretary(C) ; Asstt. Secretary (C),etc.

                        The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council consists of  30 ( thirty) members, 26 (Twenty Six)   of whom are to be elected and the four nominated  with a view to provide representation to the minorities who constitute a considerable proportion of the total population of the sub-division. The following are the 26 ( Twenty Six) constituencies from which members are elected to the District Council.

                    The tenure of the District council is for five years unless it is dissolved earlier. The District Council has a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman who are elected by the members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Assam Autonomous Districts ( Constitution of District Councils) Rules,1951.The Deputy Commissioner functions as the Returning Officer in respect of the elections to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

Paragrpah 16 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India empowers the Governor of Assam to dessolve   the Autonomous Council  on some specific grounds stated below:

(a) When the Commission appointed to enquire into the administration recommends for the dissolution ;

(b) When the Governor is satisfied that the administration of the Council can not be carried on in accordance with the provision of Sixth Schedule ;

(c) After dissolution, the Governor may direct for a fresh general election or reconstitution of the Council. Pending the holding of the general election or the reconstitution, the Governor himself or by person or body authorised by him shall administer the affairs of the Council. But the period of dissolution should be confined to 6(six) months which can subsequently be extended for another period not exceeding 6(six) months.

                      There is an executive Committee of the Autonomous Council  headed by the Chief Executive Member in addition to a number of members not exceeding one third of the total number of members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council who are appointed by the Governor of Assam as  Executive Member    on the advice of the Chief Executive Member. But the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman are not eligible to hold office either as Chief Executive Member or as a Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive committee formulates policy decisions besides discharging of day to day functioning and matters of the council. The provision of holding Council Session headed by its Chairman and is also enshrined in the constitution to discuss and consider Acts, Bills, Policy etc. formulated by the Executive Committee of Council. Almost all Development departments within its jurisdiction are controlled by the KAAC authority.

                      In accordance with the provisions laid down in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India the functions and powers of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council can be divided under three main heads- Legislative,Executive and Financial.

Legislative Powers :-

                The Governor of Assam was pleased to make the rules in the year 1951 for the first Constitution of District Councils for the autonomous districts comprising the tribal areas specified in Part A of the tribal appended to paragraph 20 of the said schedule and these rules called the "Assam Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951".

                    The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council in respect of all areas within the district shall have the power to make laws with respect to :-

• The allotment , occupation , or use or the setting apart of land other than any land which is reserved forest, for the purpose of agriculture or grazing , or for residential or other non-agricultural purposes likely to promote the interests of the inhabitants of any village or town.

• The management of any forest not being a reserved forest.

• The use of any canal or water course for the purpose of Agriculture

• The regulation of the practice of Jhum or other forms of shifting cultivation.

• The establishment of village or town committees or Councils and their powers

• Any other matter relating to village or town administration including village or town policies and public health and sanitation.

• The appointment or succession of chief or headman.

• The inheritance of property.

• Marriage.

• Social Customs.

• The District   Council has also been empowered to frame laws to regulate and control moneylending and trading by persons other than the scheduled tribes.

            Though the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council have the powers to make acts, rules, but the Governor must give his assent to the acts, rules  made by the Council . The Governor has the power to suspend or annual any act or resolution of the Council if he is satisfied that it is likely to endanger the safety of India.

EXECUTIVE POWERS :-

                        The District Council may establish, construct or manage primary schools,dispensaries, markets, cattle pounds, ferries, fisheries, road and waterways in the district and in particular may prescribe the language and manner in which primary education should be imparted in the primary schools of the district.

FINANCIAL POWER :-

                        The District Council has been allotted specific items of revenue for the efficient discharge of its functions and to meet necessary expenses. The following Financial power has been vested with the District Councils :

                        (a) Powers to assess and collect revenue and impose taxes.

                        The District Council in respect of all land within the district shall have the power to assess and collect revenue in respect of such lands in accordance with the principles for the time being followed by the Government of Assam in assessing land for the purpose of land revenue in the State of  Assam generally.

                        The District Council shall have the power to levy and collect taxes on lands and buildings, and tolls on persons residing within such areas.

                        It shall have the power to levy and collect all or any or the following taxes :-

                        1. Taxes on profession,trades,callings and employment.

                        2. Taxes on entry of goods into a market for sale therein and tolls on passengers and goods carried in ferries.

                        3. Taxes for the maintenance of schools,dispensaries and roads.

                        4. Licenses or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or extracting minerals. The District Council shall have the right of sharing the royalties accrued each year from licenses or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or the extracting of minerals granted by the Government of Assam in respect of any areas within the autonomous district as may be agreed upon between the Government of Assam and the District Councils.

List of C.E.M's( From 1952 onwards)

List of Chairmen ( From 1952 Onwards)