Nagaland celebrated the 79th Independence Day on 15th August 2025 at Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima, where Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio hoisted the National Flag and addressed the state. In his speech, Dr. Rio paid tribute to the freedom fighters and brave martyrs who secured our freedom and safeguarded our future. The Chief Minister reaffirmed that resolving the Naga Political Issue remains the government’s highest priority. Describing the peace process as “a symbol of hope,” he informed that the State has been playing the role of an active facilitator between all the stakeholders for a peaceful resolution to the Naga Political Issue. Progress was also highlighted in discussions on the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), following the latest tripartite talks between the Government of India, Government of Nagaland, and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on 23 July 2025 in Delhi. He expressed optimism that the development deficit in Eastern Nagaland would be addressed in the spirit of brotherhood
Dr. Rio voiced concern over the Centre’s decision to reduce the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo–Myanmar border from 16 km to 10 km with restricted crossing points, arguing that such changes have caused hardships for border communities with deep socio-cultural and economic ties across the international border. On the Assam–Nagaland border, he clarified that the eviction drives in the Disputed Area Belt were being undertaken jointly by both the state police and district administrations to maintain status quo and prevent illegal migration. A landmark reform this year was the complete digitisation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system on 1st January 2025. The online portal has already processed over 26,500 permits, with new ILP categories introduced for workers in agriculture, transport, domestic helpers and drivers and the education sector. Village councils will maintain registers of ILP holders, and hospitality establishments must now notify police upon the arrival of guests from outside Nagaland.
The Chief Minister stated that Agriculture and Allied Sectors, play a vital role in the socio economic growth of the state. Horticulture expansion included cultivation of 300 hectares of ginger and 245 hectares of Naga Mircha (chilli), plus six new collection centres. Nagaland also received the Award for Trinity's Best of India Award 2025 for Valuable contribution towards the organic industry at the Goa International Trade Fair. The Department of Sericulture is implementing the Eri Silk Development Project in Mon, Longleng, Tuensang, and Zunheboto with a target to cover 870 beneficiaries and produce 40MT of Eri cocoon. Fisheries output reached over 11,000 metric tonnes and an Integrated Aqua Park has been established at Tzudikong, Mokokchung. Under the National Livestock Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry &Veterinary Services has established 28 Pig breeding farms and has planned to set up 12 meat production units in the state.
In Irrigation, 270 surface minor irrigation schemes are underway under PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana) with an estimated cost of 206.85 crores is being implemented by the Water Resources Department. He said that the Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is presently implementing two externally aided projects namely The Forest Management Project funded by JICA and The Forest and Biodiversity Management Project supported by Indo German Financial Cooperation.
Dr. Rio mentioned that The Nagaland government is making big improvements in the health . Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme, 98,761 treatments worth over 182 crores have been provided since September 2018. Additionally, Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), has delivered 30,266 treatments valued at 120.42 crores since October 2022. To keep medicines safe and stop fake drugs, a new Drugs Testing Laboratory has also been set up in Kohima.
In the Education sector, the School Education Department has introduced Science streams in five existing Government Higher Secondary Schools. During 2024-2025, the Department completed the construction of four new school buildings, two Residential quarters and one Residential hostel. ICT Smart Classroom Program is being implemented in 41 GMS. Under the NECTAR project, 16 lighthouse school complexes are being developed to serve as model schools. Under SamagraShiksha, 51 educational infrastructure including 15 new Schools amounting to 33.86 crores have been inaugurated on August 2, 2025.
The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) is actively preparing to conduct the Nagaland Teacher Eligibility Test (N-TET) for the professional qualified candidates in September 2025 ensuring quality of education.
The Department of Higher Education under the Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) program is constructing Academic Buildings at Government Colleges of Zunheboto, Mokokchung and Dimapur. Model Degree Colleges for the newly created districts of Shamator, Noklak and Tseminyu Districts have been approved. The Technical Education Department has set up an Artificial Intelligence (Al) Lab at ICIT, Mokokchung with support from Intel and MEITY.
Under the Labour Department during the FY 2024-25 a total of 5974 male and 735 women construction workers in the State got registered under the NBOCW Welfare Board availing the benefits of social security and welfare schemes.
All Employment Exchanges in the State have been designated as Special Employment Exchanges under the RPwD Act, 2016, supporting People with Disabilities (PwDs). Further, the Department is launching a program "Providing Access to Core Employability Skills' to skilling our rural youth using a mobile Morung skill van, with a budget of 100 lakhs.
Under the Department of Industries & Commerce, the Centre of Excellence in Industry 4.0, focusing on Industrial Automation, Robotics and Al has been inaugurated at NTTC, Dimapur on 25th April 2025 to skill our youths.
A State delegation visited Japan from 3 to 10 July 2025, and signed an MoU with Kochi prefecture for HR exchange and another between ARMS corporation and IDAN on HR and sports Cultural Troupes from our State participated in the Bharat Utsav -Festival of India from July 5th to 13th 2025 at Manezhnaya Square in Moscow.
Under the Department of Women Resource Development, the Transformative Livelihood Intervention (TLI) Project, 585 women received financial and material support to take up income-generating activities. The Department is also taking up construction of Working Women Hostels in 15 sites across 9 districts under SASCI during 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The Prison Department with the help of NGOs are providing training to inmates with a view to reintegrate them in the society after release.
Under Law and Justice Department, the first-ever State Mega Legal Services Camp was organized by NSLSA in collaboration with the State Government under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority on 12h April, 2025.
Under Rural Development, during the FY 2025- 26, MGNREGA generated 26.49 lakh person- days, as on June 2025, and provided employment to 2.00 lakh households, covering 2.04 lakh individuals. Under PMAY-G, the State has completed 36,144 houses out of the cumulative target of 48,830. Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) 15,412 Self Help Groups (SHG) have been formed. Further 30,133 SHG members have been identified as potential LakhpatiDidi by engaging them in income-generating activities. 49 enterprises have been promoted under Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP).
The Municipal Affairs Department provided an amount of Rs. 11 Cr to the 25 Elected ULBs during the Financial Year 2024-25 to set up a Basic Functional Office. Under Pradhan Wantn Awas Yojana-Housing for All-Urban, a total of 29,973 Households belonging to the Economically Weaker section have received financial support from the government and have successfully achieved 94 %completion. Under SASCI, 2024-25, the Department is taking up12 infrastructure projects including Market complex in various ULBs to provide revenue generating Provision of sanitation of office Building for 18 ULBs and Provision of Sanitation vehicles to 15 ULBs is under process.
AMRUT 2.0 aims to make all Cities/Towns water secure including the components of Water Supply, Septage and Sewerage. To achieve that target, 64 projects have been undertaken in all 39 ULBs for early completion. The Department, through assistance from the Asian Development Bank, is preparing investment-ready urban infrastructure projects for 16 District HQs.
The Department of Youth Resources and Sports hosted the inaugural Nagaland Super League, the first-ever professional football league in the State from January 28 to April 1, 2025. Also the Government used to announce three major initiatives at any event - Nagaland Football Academy, The Chief Minister's Sports Scholarships and Nagaland International Gold Cup in order to nurture local talent and promote sports. 31 Multi-Disciplinary Indoor Stadiums and 28 Futsal Grounds have been sanctioned under SASCI during this financial year out of which 3 Pre-Fab Multipurpose Hall and 13 Futsal grounds have been inaugurated on 2nd August 2025 and the rest will be made functional by the end of this financial year. 4 (Four) more Multipurpose Indoor Stadiums are under construction under the Khelo India Scheme. Further, the Centre for Excellence in Music and Arts (CEMA), conceptualized to encourage and promote music and arts at National and International level, while conserving the age-old traditional music and art was inaugurated on 1st December 2024.
The Department of Information & Public Relations has notified the "Nagaland Film Policy 2024" to promote cinema in the State of Nagaland by fostering a conducive environment for filmmaking, film production, cinematic tourism, and increase the regional film production. 5 filmmakers and film students attended the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany from 13th- 23rd February 2025.
The Nagaland Tourism Department continues to make significant strides in unlocking the State's vast tourism potential. Nagaland's flagship Hornbill Festival 2024 recorded a remarkable tourist footfall of 2,05,968, reflecting a 33% increase from the previous year.
The Science & Technology Department has successfully commissioned the Innovation Hub and Space Education Centre at Science & Technology Complex, Kohima.
The Department of Power under NESIDS has upgraded the transformer capacity of the Nagarjan Substation Dimapur, to 350 MVA. Further, under PM-DeVINE a 220/132/33 KV Substation with associated transmission lines at Tsitrongse (Diezephe) is under construction to decongest Nagarjan Substation. To enhance the renewable energy generation capacity of the state, the Department has successfully commissioned two Small hydro projects- Duilumroi small hydro project in Peren (2.4MW) & Ponglefo small Hydro Project (1MW) at Salomi village in Kiphire district.
Dr. Rio mentioned that the Nagaland Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 14th April 2025 in convergence with PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (Roof-Top Solar Scheme). To encourage the development of clean energy, the NRE Department has successfully completed a 5MW Solar Power Plant at Hovukhu Village, Niuland. Another 5MW Solar Power Plant at Zhadima/Teichuma Village under Kohima district is under progress.
Rio reiterated the commitment of the Government to improve the road network in the State and highlighted the many initiatives undertaken by the Department of Road & Bridges. He also highlighted the infrastructural upgradation in the Police Department.
A key cultural initiative undertaken by DUDA with the support of NEC, the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon district has been completed and inaugurated. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has successfully achieved construction & installation of fire fighting systems under SASCI in 3 designated Helipads in the State located in Kohima, Chumoukedima and Zunheboto Districts. The Department is planning to construct three new Fire Stations at Dimapur, Bhandari and Pungro and a Training Centre at Chiechama, Kohima.
Highlighting the tax scenario in the State, Dr. Rio said that the Taxation Department has developed GST Returns and Adjudication Management System (G-RAMS) in order to check discrepancies in returns and mismatch in tax liabilities. The Treasuries & Accounts Department has launched Grade- IV e-GPF system in September2024 that has enabled greater transparency and accountability. Furthermore, twenty-two Treasuries and Sub-Treasuries have been fully computerized and the integration of e-Pay Bills, e-NPS and the Budget Sub-Allocation System has enhanced efficiency and coordination across departments. The adoption of RBI's e-Kuber platform for receipts and payments has further contributed to the modernization efforts by the State. Dr. Rio also informed that the Nagaland state Transport Department will be establishing 10 new Helipads and up-gradation of 4 existing helipads will be done to enhance helicopter service connectivity. Construction of inter-State truck terminus along the NH-29 at Chumoukedima under MoDoNER has also been approved.
Regarding the Law and Order situation in the State, he said that the overall law and order situation in the State remains largely stable and under control, with no major disturbances reported across districts made possible by the concerted efforts of the Civil Administration, State Police and Security Forces. This in large measure has been due to the dedicated surveillance, timely intelligence gathering, and proactive coordination with national security agencies by the State Police. In conclusion Dr. Rio urged the people of the State to build a self-reliant Nagaland for every citizen.
(Nongozo, Asst. Director, Morotsung, IA & Samuel IA)
