The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has protested the inclusion of a non-indigenous candidate in the Nagaland State Quota for NEET 2025, calling on the State Government to disqualify her from consideration.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, the NSF stated that the candidate, Ms. Vatsala Panghal, who scored 455 in NEET 2025 and secured an All India Rank of 113803, has been listed under State Rank Category III, Serial No. 1.
The NSF stated that her father, Colonel Lovelesh Panghal, is currently posted in Kohima as Commanding Officer of 1 Nagaland NB, NCC. However, the NSF asserted that the family’s domicile is Haryana and that Ms. Panghal is not indigenous to Nagaland nor a member of any recognized Scheduled Tribe of the State.
The federation maintained that the State Quota is reserved exclusively for candidates who are “Nagas by blood and indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland, as mandated under existing policies and in keeping with the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in the State.”
It warned that allowing such candidature would set a “dangerous precedent” and deprive deserving indigenous students of opportunities.
“The NSF has consistently opposed and prevented instances where non-indigenous individuals attempt to claim these limited and highly competitive seats through temporary postings, forged affiliations, or misinterpretations of eligibility. Allowing such ineligible candidature would set a dangerous precedent, depriving deserving indigenous Naga students of their rightful opportunities and eroding the very essence of the State Quota policy,” the NSF wrote.
It urged the government to disqualify Ms. Panghal from consideration under the Nagaland State Quota for NEET 2025 and strengthen verification processes to prevent similar cases in the future.
The NSF also informed that its Education Committee is conducting physical verification of documents for all State Quota candidates this month in Kohima, with mandatory scrutiny of Scheduled Tribe and Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates.
The NSF also said that, as the apex students’ body of the Nagas, it is “duty-bound to safeguard the rights, privileges, and opportunities meant for the indigenous people of Nagaland.”