KOHIMA, SEP 3: The Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026, paving the way for a unique self-governing authority over the state’s six eastern districts — Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator.
The ninth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly was adjourned on Thursday sine die today after completing its listed business.
The FNTA Bill provides the proposed authority with legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to address the social, economic, educational, cultural and linguistic aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland.
The 62-member authority will have 40 directly elected members from territorial constituencies through adult suffrage, with one-third of the seats reserved for women. Two members will be nominated by the Governor, while 20 Eastern Naga MLAs will serve as ex-officio members without voting rights.
Twelve legislators, including several from Eastern Nagaland, participated in the discussion on the Bill.
Concluding the discussion, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the proposed FNTA seeks to address the longstanding developmental deficits in Eastern Nagaland and promote equitable and inclusive development across Nagaland.
He said the region had “long suffered from significant developmental deficits” owing to historical and geographical challenges, adding that the proposed arrangement would enable people in the six districts to pursue their aspirations while strengthening democratic and decentralised governance within the state.
Under the Bill, the state government will allocate funds to the FNTA based on population and geographical size, while the Centre will provide additional funding through schemes and programmes, including Special Development Grants, taking into account the region’s underdevelopment and infrastructure deficit.
The authority will identify development projects in consultation with the state government and prepare annual plans within the funds allocated to departments and subjects under its control. It will also have its own planning and finance mechanisms to formulate development plans based on grassroots needs.
The Bill was initially introduced in the Assembly on March 26 but was deferred amid concerns over the proposed authority’s powers and its constitutional and legal implications.
Rio said detailed consultations and revisions were undertaken subsequently, with the revised draft submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 16 following a Cabinet decision to enact legislation conferring legislative powers on the FNTA over transferred subjects and departments, in consultation with and with the approval of the MHA.
He stressed that Article 371(A) of the Constitution would remain inviolable.
Rio also said the state government had requested the Centre to increase the proposed economic package/Special Development Grant from Rs. 5,000 crore to a minimum of Rs. 10,000 crore to accelerate development in Eastern Nagaland.
The creation of the FNTA follows the Memorandum of Agreement signed in February this year between the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation.
Also read | Nemcha Kipgen Denies Collusion With Kuki Militants, Counters Losii Dikho’s Claims
House seeks review of Protected Area Permit regime
The Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw or relax the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Nagaland, stating that the restrictions were hampering tourism, investment, business, cultural exchange and employment opportunities.
The resolution was moved by deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton on the final day of the session and adopted through voice vote.
The House said Nagaland remained committed to national security and to working with the Centre on technology-driven systems to register and monitor foreign visitors.
The PAP regime, introduced under the Foreigners Protected Area Order, 1958, was relaxed for Nagaland in 2011 but reimposed in December 2024.
Participating in the discussion, Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along said Nagaland’s peaceful situation was distinct from that of neighbouring states and urged the Centre to reconsider the reimposition of the permit system.
Industries and Commerce advisor Hekani Jakhalu said the regime could discourage investors and limit opportunities for Nagaland’s youth to benefit from India’s economic growth. MLA Naiba Konyak also supported the resolution.
Rio suggested replacing the PAP regime with a technology-based system to monitor foreign visitors, saying such an arrangement could maintain security safeguards while easing travel restrictions.
He said security and development need not be opposing objectives and that regulatory mechanisms must evolve with changing realities.
The chief minister also highlighted tourism and the Hornbill Festival as important drivers of economic activity, saying temporary relaxation of the PAP regime during the festival did not provide sufficient certainty for international tourists, investors and diplomats who plan their visits months in advance.
The House also discussed pension-related matters, the situation along the Assam-Nagaland border and the implications of the proposed Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026.
Five other government Bills were passed, while reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General and various Assembly committees were also presented.
Speaker Sharingain Longkumer adjourned the House sine die following completion of the listed business.
Also read | BJP Ready to Go Solo in Tripura Village Committee Polls if Alliance Fails
