This study investigates the correlation between the quality of the parent-child relationship and the development of emotional intelligence (EI) among Karbi children residing in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. As the Karbi community undergoes rapid socio-cultural shifts in a globalizing landscape, understanding how traditional familial attachment styles influence psychological development is critical. Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional design, 200 Karbi children (aged 12–16) were assessed using the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS). The findings indicate a statistically significant positive correlation between perceived parental warmth, support and the child’s ability to regulate emotions, perceive social cues and manage interpersonal relationships. Conversely, authoritarian parenting styles were negatively correlated with emotional self-awareness. The study underscores the role of the Karbi matrilineal and traditional communal family structure in providing a secure base for emotional growth. These results have implications for community-based counseling, educational interventions and policy-making aimed at preserving psychological wellbeing within indigenous Himalayan-borderland populations. The research highlights that nurturing home environments are universal predictors of EI, though they are mediated by specific cultural child-rearing practices unique to the Karbi tribe.