Forest officers in Nagaland will have to complete at least three years of service in remote and difficult areas to become eligible for promotion to the next higher rank, under the Nagaland Forest Department Officers’ Transfer Policy, 2026, notified by the State Government.
The policy makes one full three-year term in a Category C posting mandatory for every officer covered by it during their service career. Officers who fail to complete the prescribed Category C service will not be eligible for promotion to the next higher rank.
Issued by the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the policy applies to Nagaland Forest Department officers from Deputy Ranger Officer to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)/Divisional Forest Officer (DFO). It also covers Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers posted in Nagaland up to the rank of DCF/DFO, subject to applicable service rules.
Under the new arrangement, posting stations have been divided into three categories based on accessibility, infrastructure, availability of amenities, hardship and remoteness.
Category A includes Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Niuland, Kohima, Tseminyu, Peren and Mokokchung. Category B comprises Zunheboto, Wokha, Phek and Meluri, while Category C covers Mon, Longleng, Tuensang, Shamator, Noklak and Kiphire.
For promotion eligibility, officers must satisfactorily complete at least three years in Category C and two years in Category B.
Alternatively, five continuous years in Category C will also fulfil the requirement.
The policy, however, clarifies that these mandatory posting requirements will not affect the inter-se seniority of State Forest Service officers for consideration for induction into the Indian Forest Service, which will continue to be governed by the applicable service rules.
The standard tenure at any posting station has been fixed at a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years. Transfers before completion of the minimum tenure will ordinarily not be permitted, except in cases of administrative necessity, disciplinary proceedings, serious medical conditions or other exceptional circumstances approved by the competent authority.
Officers completing five years in Category C may seek transfer to Category A or B, with such requests to be considered on priority, subject to the availability of suitable vacancies.
The policy also seeks to prevent prolonged postings in an officer’s home district to ensure impartiality in forest administration. It provides for rotation across Territorial Divisions, Wildlife Divisions and Functional/Headquarters Divisions to promote professional development and wider administrative experience.
For the annual transfer exercise, applications will be invited between January and March, while routine transfers will ordinarily be carried out once a year, preferably between November and January, to minimise disruption to field operations. Ad hoc and out-of-season transfers will be discouraged.
The Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force will maintain consolidated posting registers of all officers covered under the policy to facilitate systematic planning and implementation.
The policy takes effect from the date of its official notification and supersedes all previous orders, circulars and guidelines on the subject. The Government has retained the authority to relax its provisions in cases of extreme hardship or public service necessity, and to amend the policy in the public interest.