diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
index 0120ad0ad4a..fdb4a6702e5 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
@@ -448,6 +448,8 @@ Release 2.4.0 - UNRELEASED
 
     HADOOP-10361. Correct alignment in CLI output for ACLs. (cnauroth)
 
+    HADOOP-10399. FileContext API for ACLs. (Vinayakumar B via cnauroth)
+
 Release 2.3.1 - UNRELEASED
 
   INCOMPATIBLE CHANGES
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/AbstractFileSystem.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/AbstractFileSystem.java
index c381f7c3cc1..6942758dd9a 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/AbstractFileSystem.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/AbstractFileSystem.java
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.fs.FileSystem.Statistics;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Options.ChecksumOpt;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Options.CreateOpts;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Options.Rename;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclEntry;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclStatus;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.FsPermission;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.InvalidPathException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.security.AccessControlException;
@@ -955,7 +957,89 @@ public abstract class AbstractFileSystem {
   public List<Token<?>> getDelegationTokens(String renewer) throws IOException {
     return new ArrayList<Token<?>>(0);
   }
-  
+
+  /**
+   * Modifies ACL entries of files and directories.  This method can add new ACL
+   * entries or modify the permissions on existing ACL entries.  All existing
+   * ACL entries that are not specified in this call are retained without
+   * changes.  (Modifications are merged into the current ACL.)
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing modifications
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void modifyAclEntries(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support modifyAclEntries");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes ACL entries from files and directories.  Other ACL entries are
+   * retained.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing entries to remove
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void removeAclEntries(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support removeAclEntries");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes all default ACL entries from files and directories.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void removeDefaultAcl(Path path)
+      throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support removeDefaultAcl");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes all but the base ACL entries of files and directories.  The entries
+   * for user, group, and others are retained for compatibility with permission
+   * bits.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be removed
+   */
+  public void removeAcl(Path path)
+      throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support removeAcl");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Fully replaces ACL of files and directories, discarding all existing
+   * entries.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing modifications, must include entries
+   *   for user, group, and others for compatibility with permission bits.
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void setAcl(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec) throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support setAcl");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the ACLs of files and directories.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to get
+   * @return RemoteIterator<AclStatus> which returns each AclStatus
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be read
+   */
+  public AclStatus getAclStatus(Path path) throws IOException {
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException(getClass().getSimpleName()
+        + " doesn't support getAclStatus");
+  }
+
   @Override //Object
   public int hashCode() {
     return myUri.hashCode();
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileContext.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileContext.java
index 83a0004f498..90ccc811506 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileContext.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FileContext.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import java.io.OutputStream;
 import java.net.URI;
 import java.security.PrivilegedExceptionAction;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.EnumSet;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
@@ -43,6 +42,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceStability;
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.FileSystem.Statistics;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Options.CreateOpts;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclEntry;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclStatus;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.FsPermission;
 import static org.apache.hadoop.fs.CommonConfigurationKeysPublic.FS_DEFAULT_NAME_KEY;
 import static org.apache.hadoop.fs.CommonConfigurationKeysPublic.FS_DEFAULT_NAME_DEFAULT;
@@ -2205,4 +2206,127 @@ public final class FileContext {
     }
     return tokenList;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Modifies ACL entries of files and directories.  This method can add new ACL
+   * entries or modify the permissions on existing ACL entries.  All existing
+   * ACL entries that are not specified in this call are retained without
+   * changes.  (Modifications are merged into the current ACL.)
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing modifications
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void modifyAclEntries(final Path path, final List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    new FSLinkResolver<Void>() {
+      @Override
+      public Void next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        fs.modifyAclEntries(p, aclSpec);
+        return null;
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes ACL entries from files and directories.  Other ACL entries are
+   * retained.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing entries to remove
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void removeAclEntries(final Path path, final List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    new FSLinkResolver<Void>() {
+      @Override
+      public Void next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        fs.removeAclEntries(p, aclSpec);
+        return null;
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes all default ACL entries from files and directories.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void removeDefaultAcl(Path path)
+      throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    new FSLinkResolver<Void>() {
+      @Override
+      public Void next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        fs.removeDefaultAcl(p);
+        return null;
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Removes all but the base ACL entries of files and directories.  The entries
+   * for user, group, and others are retained for compatibility with permission
+   * bits.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be removed
+   */
+  public void removeAcl(Path path) throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    new FSLinkResolver<Void>() {
+      @Override
+      public Void next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        fs.removeAcl(p);
+        return null;
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Fully replaces ACL of files and directories, discarding all existing
+   * entries.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to modify
+   * @param aclSpec List<AclEntry> describing modifications, must include entries
+   *   for user, group, and others for compatibility with permission bits.
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be modified
+   */
+  public void setAcl(Path path, final List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    new FSLinkResolver<Void>() {
+      @Override
+      public Void next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        fs.setAcl(p, aclSpec);
+        return null;
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the ACLs of files and directories.
+   *
+   * @param path Path to get
+   * @return RemoteIterator<AclStatus> which returns each AclStatus
+   * @throws IOException if an ACL could not be read
+   */
+  public AclStatus getAclStatus(Path path) throws IOException {
+    Path absF = fixRelativePart(path);
+    return new FSLinkResolver<AclStatus>() {
+      @Override
+      public AclStatus next(final AbstractFileSystem fs, final Path p)
+          throws IOException {
+        return fs.getAclStatus(p);
+      }
+    }.resolve(this, absF);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FilterFs.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FilterFs.java
index cdc0d1fdefa..c91088eab0d 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FilterFs.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FilterFs.java
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import java.util.List;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceAudience;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceStability;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.FileSystem.Statistics;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclEntry;
+import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.AclStatus;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.permission.FsPermission;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Options.ChecksumOpt;
 import org.apache.hadoop.security.AccessControlException;
@@ -283,4 +285,36 @@ public abstract class FilterFs extends AbstractFileSystem {
   public boolean isValidName(String src) {
     return myFs.isValidName(src);
   }
+
+  @Override
+  public void modifyAclEntries(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    myFs.modifyAclEntries(path, aclSpec);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void removeAclEntries(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec)
+      throws IOException {
+    myFs.removeAclEntries(path, aclSpec);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void removeDefaultAcl(Path path) throws IOException {
+    myFs.removeDefaultAcl(path);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void removeAcl(Path path) throws IOException {
+    myFs.removeAcl(path);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void setAcl(Path path, List<AclEntry> aclSpec) throws IOException {
+    myFs.setAcl(path, aclSpec);
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public AclStatus getAclStatus(Path path) throws IOException {
+    return myFs.getAclStatus(path);
+  }
 }