Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Indigenous Body Blacklists Researchers Over Arunachal Ethics Dispute
An Indigenous group in Arunachal Pradesh has rules for people who want to do research on its land.
The group said four researchers broke those rules by working or entering areas before receiving final permission.
The researchers and their institutions said they respect the rules, but disagreed about what happened.
One institution said no research had begun and that its researchers had approvals for trekking and accommodation.
Another researcher said his team had answered the group’s messages and wanted to resolve the disagreement.
The group’s rules aim to protect local knowledge, land, culture and spiritual values.
Similar rules were recently introduced by a tribal council in the Nicobar Islands.
These communities want researchers to ask permission and involve them before beginning work.
The Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society blacklisted four researchers over alleged violations of its research ethics code.
The society said researchers entered community areas before final approval and engaged in discriminatory practices.
The researchers’ institutions said they supported ethical research, but described the dispute as a misunderstanding or said they were reviewing the concerns.
The Idu Mishmi code requires proposals, documents, review-board discussions and village-level approval for research on community land.
The dispute reflects wider Indigenous concerns about extractive research and the absence of dedicated Indian research-ethics laws for tribal communities.
- Who
- The Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society and four researchers: Rajkamal Goswami, Aavika Dhanda, Krushnamegh Kunte and Fahim Khan.
- What
- The society blacklisted the researchers for allegedly violating its community research ethics code.
- When
- The blacklisting occurred in mid-August; the Idu Mishmi code was first published in 2024.
- Where
- The dispute concerns research in the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Why
- The society said the researchers entered community areas before final approval and engaged in discriminatory practices; the researchers’ institutions disputed or said they were reviewing those claims.
Community’s Account
Researchers’ and Institutions’ Account
Whether permission was obtained
Community’s Account
The Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society said the researchers entered community areas while final consent and approval were still pending.
Researchers’ and Institutions’ Account
Rajkamal Goswami said his team responded to all communications and attended all meetings to which it was invited. The National Centre for Biological Sciences said its researchers were trying to obtain approval and that there appeared to have been a misunderstanding.
Conduct during the dispute
Community’s Account
The society said National Centre for Biological Sciences researchers failed to attend a planned in-person meeting and that Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment researchers never sought official permission despite repeated requests.
Researchers’ and Institutions’ Account
The National Centre for Biological Sciences said its researchers stayed at the location with approvals for trekking and accommodation and did not initiate research. Goswami said his team had shared its communication records and was seeking dialogue.
Purpose and impact of research rules
Community’s Account
The society and tribal scholars said community protocols protect land, knowledge, culture and spiritual values from extractive or colonial research practices.
Researchers’ and Institutions’ Account
The institutions said they support ethical research and community guidelines, while seeking to understand and address the concerns so their conservation and research work can continue.
- Community body
- Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society, the apex body of the Idu Mishmi community in the Dibang Valley
- Researchers
- Rajkamal Goswami, Aavika Dhanda, Krushnamegh Kunte and Fahim Khan
- Research ethics code
- Published by the Idu Mishmi community in 2024
- Society’s claim
- The researchers allegedly conducted activities before final Research and Ethics Review Board approval
- Required process
- Researchers must submit proposals and documents, consult the review board and obtain approval at the village level
- Other community guidelines
- The Little and Great Nicobar tribal council published 13 research guidelines on August 10
- Wider concern
- India has no dedicated laws or policies specifically governing research ethics involving tribal and other marginalised communities