For over 40 days, Nagaland has been gripped by a battle that is as much about meritocracy and administrative transparency as it is about regional identity and political symbolism. The induction of Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has morphed into a full-blown confrontation between student organizations, civil society groups, and the State government.
On Thursday, the Nagaland State Cabinet took decisive action, recalling the panel of names submitted for the Select List 2024. Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, noted that “the Vacancy Circular dated March 10, 2025 was issued without the approval of the competent authority,” while the 2020 circular “was not followed up with the preparation of a Cabinet Memorandum, nor was any policy decision taken or notified.”
The Cabinet also acknowledged representations submitted by various service associations, including CANSSEA, to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It further referenced a letter from the UPSC dated October 10, 2025, requesting additional information regarding the Select List 2024.
After reviewing these developments, the Cabinet decided to recall the panel and resolve all outstanding issues through consultation with DoPT and UPSC, while appealing to stakeholders to cooperate and call off ongoing protests.
The Cabinet also appealed to all concerned to cooperate and call off the ongoing agitation and protest related to the issue.
The Cabinet’s move, aimed at restoring administrative clarity, comes after months of agitation led by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and its constituent bodies – CANSSEA, FONSESA, NSSA, NIDA, and NF&ASA. The JCC has been demanding corrective action against what it perceives as the inclusion of a “backdoor appointee” in the IAS induction panel.
Their pen-down and tools-down strike, now entering its sixth week, has divided Nagaland’s student and civil society.
Two camps, two narratives
On one side stand the NSF and NTPRADAO, lending moral and organizational support to the JCC. The Naga Students’ Federation has declared “unequivocal solidarity” with the committee, warning that “any consideration of officers who have entered service through irregular, backdoor or unconstitutional means constitutes a direct violation of the very spirit of meritocracy.” They have also called on the State Government to “rectify and nullify any irregular or unconstitutional considerations in the IAS induction process” while urging the JCC to temporarily suspend agitation to avoid further disruption of essential services.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland bloc- ENSF, ENPO, and ENWO – has been vocal against the strike, arguing that it undermines due process and even targets individuals. The ENSF, citing RTI findings, clarified that “no such criterion exists to substantiate the Vacancy Circular dated 6th July 2020” and that “the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms has no valid justification to uphold the position of the JCC in the absence of any official record or authorization.” ENSF further noted that “non-NCS officers were appointed to the IAS cadre in 2021 against the vacancy,” asserting that the nullification of the March 2025 advertisement was legally and administratively justified.
The ENPO raised another concern- personal targeting. The organization expressed “deep resentment” that the strike had “turned otherwise by targeting, trolling, defaming, and inflicting mental trauma upon one of its citizens, Dr. Anungla,” describing it as “unbecoming in our Christian state.” The ENPO warned that such attacks on individuals, rather than addressing grievances through proper authorities, “is certainly a case of crossing the limit.”
Even the NTPRADAO, which otherwise supports the JCC, condemned the Eastern Nagaland Women Organization for what it termed “narrow-minded sub-regional chauvinism,” asserting that “tribalism is one of the ugliest and most dangerous evils fomenting disunity among the Nagas.” The group called for a unified stand in support of the JCC’s “morally and ethically right” position.
The legal and procedural battleground
In the middle of the controversy lies the statutory framework governing IAS induction. ENSF emphasized that the process is bound by IAS (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, and IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997, central laws under the All India Services Act, 1951. According to the Federation, “it is understood that an IAS is not a State service but an All India Service, and therefore any selection process conducted in accordance with the DoPT regulations and UPSC guidelines is valid, binding, and lawful.”
The debate over the 2020 Vacancy Circular- stating that “only officers recruited through the NPSC may apply”- has been a flashpoint. ENSF claims it “was neither implemented nor acknowledged by the screening committee or the State Government” and highlights that objections were not raised in 2021 when officers from non-NCS backgrounds were inducted. ENSF asserts that “multiple interpretations of rules and regulations are being fabricated with the intent to suppress the rights and representation of the people of Eastern Nagaland,” a claim the JCC denies.
Beyond procedure: Meritocracy vs. Representation
The crisis illustrates a larger tension: the collision between centralized legal frameworks and regional aspirations. The JCC frames its protest as a fight for fairness and meritocracy, while Eastern Nagaland groups see the strike as a vehicle for sub-regional or even personal attacks that jeopardize individual reputations.
ENSF warns that interference with a lawful, centrally governed process “undermines administrative discipline and the authority of due process,” while NTPRADAO warns that failure to resolve the dispute “could force a mass movement of epic proportions.”
As the State Cabinet reviews the recalled panel and consults DoPT and UPSC authorities, the question remains whether Nagaland can reconcile due process, merit, and equitable regional representation – without turning an administrative procedure into a test of social cohesion and political patience.
NPCC calls for swift resolution, warns of Governance Paralysis
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has expressed “deep concern” over the prolonged deadlock between the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on IAS induction and the State Government, warning that the impasse has brought governance to a near standstill and caused widespread inconvenience to the public.
In a statement, the NPCC highlighted that the matter “raises fundamental questions of meritocracy and fairness,” values the party says it has consistently championed. While acknowledging the grievances raised by the JCC, the NPCC emphasized that public service and administrative responsibilities must not be “disproportionately compromised” during the pursuit of these rights.
The party urged both the JCC and the State Government to engage in “good-faith dialogue” and exhaust all possible avenues to reach a “speedy, equitable, and transparent resolution,” warning that failure to do so could lead to further disruption of essential public services.
“The people of Nagaland have borne the brunt of administrative standstill caused by this issue for too long,” the NPCC statement read. The party reiterated the “paramountcy of public welfare” and called on both sides to resolve their differences without delay to restore normalcy in governance and service delivery.