Centre’s committee on ‘permanent political solution’ for Gorkha issue | Explained
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced the formation of a committee to find a 'permanent political solution' for the Gorkha community in Darjeeling. The committee will be chaired by Pankaj Kumar Singh and aims to address demands for identity and constitutional recognition.
Why it matters
This initiative attempts to resolve a decades-long conflict regarding statehood and regional autonomy in West Bengal that has historically led to significant civil unrest.
The story so far: On Saturday (August 22, 2026) Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with different stakeholders of Darjeeling hills in West Bengal. In the meeting, the Home Minister announced the setting up of a committee to draft an agreement and finalise modalities for “permanent political solution” sought by the people of Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas in north Bengal.
“It was decided to constitute a committee, chaired by the former deputy National Security Advisor and current interlocutor Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, to finalize the modalities,” a statement from the Union Home Ministry said. According to the Home Ministry, during the meeting on Saturday (August 22, 2026), all issues concerning the hill population of West Bengal were discussed in detail, and “demands regarding their identity, a permanent political solution, and recognition under the Constitution of India were taken up”.
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