Arunachal Tribal Groups Demand End to 80 20 Job Ratio

Hundreds of tribal youths, parents, and civil society members held a mass protest in Itanagar on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to demand the removal of the 80:20 job reservation ratio in state government recruitment. The demonstration was organized by the Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF), with participants marching from the Akashdeep market area to Indira Gandhi Park to voice their opposition to the current hiring policy.

Demand for Full Reservation

The AFTF is calling for 100 percent job reservation for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) candidates. The organization argues that the existing 20 percent reservation for non-APST or open category candidates limits employment chances for local indigenous youths. Furthermore, the group has requested that the state government make Permanent Resident Certificates and Scheduled Tribe status mandatory for all competitive exams held by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) by August 15.

Response to Government Committees

During the protest, AFTF Chairman Tadak Nalo spoke about the government's approach to the issue. He stated that the formation of multiple high-level review committees is being used to delay the decision-making process. The organization has warned of further state-wide agitations if the government does not take action to abolish the 80:20 ratio within the set timeframe.