By Editor See, as an Indian citizen as well as an outsider, you can pretty much tell that every state of India is different in many different aspects, like landscapes, climate conditions, culture, and whatnot. But this difference or uniqueness can also be seen in the constitutional laws and rules for a state, like of course, out of all the states in the country, as of 2026, there are a few that have special status, did you know that? Yes, as per the Special Category Status (SCS) in 1969, there are as many as 11 states that have special status, and today, we’ll talk about the List of Special Status States in India 2026. Here we go then.
1. Arunachal Pradesh
Let’s first talk about Arunachal Pradesh, and you’ll come to know why that is the case. See, besides an unending history of disputes with China and Myanmar, there are quite a few factors which include: inhabitant of state by military forces, thick jungle, and rough terrain that make the mode of development in this state quite different from that of any other. And? Well, because of these reasons, among the features of the special category status that is very helpful is that it facilitates the flow of money to the state, particularly for very important infrastructure programs, for which it would be next to impossible to obtain funds from other sources.
2. Himachal Pradesh
And then, well, behind those breathtaking pictures of this state that you often see on social media, there are steep slopes and cold winters that pretty much freeze everything from education to health services in the region. More than 90% of the villages are spread over the different mountain ranges; therefore, development in the most basic form is extremely slow and expensive. This is exactly the reason why Himachal is still eligible for this special charm even in 2026.
3. Manipur
Manipur, a state in the far North-East, shares a border with Myanmar and has been facing accessibility issues for a long time, so in a way, yes, as of today, it is still necessary to use several means of transport, and it takes a long time to get to certain places. The SCS status acts as an assurance that money from the center will keep coming.
4. Assam
Because of its distinct exposure to seasonal floods, Assam ranks fourth. Year after year, the flood of the Brahmaputra river inundates major areas of the state, destroying the facilities and hampering progress, which is a big issue right here. So, for the revival purposes, it still has the SCS status.
5. Mizoram
Do you know that still, very big areas of Mizoram do not have roads that can be used in all weather conditions? That’s true, and of course, this is due to the fact that the whole state is located on narrow ridges and valleys, which makes the most basic construction works appear as an engineering challenge. So, no doubt, the SCS status is a must for this one as well.
6. Meghalaya
Meghalaya? But why? Well, it has a lot to do with the climate here, as many of you may already know about that. And surely, even though it is rich in natural beauty and resources, the absence of a reliable road and digital infrastructure makes it lag behind. But it is that SCS status that gives the monetary support to keep things going.
7. Nagaland
Another hilly state? Well, of course, and there is a simple reason behind it, see, it is among the least developed states regarding the facilities of education, healthcare, and industry. The Special Category Status is the main reason why help from the central government is still coming, which is practically necessary as well.
8. Tripura
You might know that Tripura is a landlocked state in terms of geography, with Bangladesh bordering it on three sides. Such a location inevitably brings about serious problems of movement and commerce. Although the situation still remains in 2026, the inside road network is still far from being complete, so for that, SCS status helps out with a bunch of things.
9. Sikkim
Although it is ranked as one of the most peaceful and well-arranged states in the Northeast, Sikkim is continuously battling various issues because of its small area, high elevation, and regions prone to earthquakes. And then, there is the issue of it sharing an international border with China, which alone is a good reason for the SCS status.
10. Uttarakhand
Why Uttarakhand, though? Well, that’s mainly because the development is going slowly here due to mountainous terrain and frequent disasters like floods and landslides. So yes, the SCS status is a must for the UK of India.
11. Telangana
And see, last on the list, it is not there because it is of least importance; rather, it is the most outstanding case of the eleven. Unlike the others, Telangana does not have a wild nature or distant borders. Rather, it was given SCS after it was separated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014 in order to make up for the economic imbalance that was caused by the division, you know?