Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio makes the concluding remarks on FNTA during the Ninth Session of the 14th NLA at NLA Hall, Kohima, on September 3. (DIPR)
Our Correspondent
Kohima| September 3
In a landmark development, the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026 has been unanimously passed today at the 9th session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima.
The development occurred after the Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton moved the bill on the floor of the House, for consideration and passing, with amendment “In the preamble of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill, 2026, in the second paragraph, after the words and abbreviation “in order to uphold the autonomy of FNTA”, and before the words, “and to provide for democratic,” the words, “as per the provisions of this Act,” shall be omitted.”
The FNTA Bill 2026 is to provide for the constitution of the Authority for the region comprising the six districts of Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator of the state of Nagaland.
Commending the Bill to the House for consideration and passing, Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio said that the objective of constituting the FNTA is to establish a unique self-governing Territorial Authority that will enable the people of Eastern Nagaland to fulfil their social, economic, educational, cultural, and linguistic aspirations.
“It will also provide for democratic, decentralised self-governance at the regional level within the State of Nagaland,” he said.
With the constitution of FNTA, it is envisaged for a comprehensive economic development of the Eastern Nagaland Region aligning its process with the rest of the State, CM Rio said.
He said the State Government will be allocating funds to FNTA based on its population and size, and also the Government of India, keeping in view, the under-development and lack of Infrastructure in Eastern Nagaland Region will be sanctioning requisite funds under various schemes or programme of the Ministry as, Special Development Grants for development o infrastructure within FNTA and for which, the FNTA will themselves identify such development projects in consultation with the State Government.
The FNTA will also prepare its own Annual Plan within the allocated funds for the departments and subjects under its control and will have its own planning/finance set-up to formulate development plans based on grassroots needs, the Chief Minister informed.
“The State Government on its part will ensure timely release of funds in accordance with laid-down norms of the State Government as well as the Central Government,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that there was one suggestion received from FNTA for a minor amendment in the preamble of the Bill by omitting certain words which has also been presented to the House.
“The constitution of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority will go a long way in fulfilling the desire and aspirations of our brothers and sisters from Eastern Nagaland,” CM Rio said adding that for many years now, they have yearned for a special institutional arrangement that would address their genuine concerns relating to development, accelerate faster economic growth and ensure all-round progress across Eastern Nagaland.
“Through this Authority, we seek to bring about comprehensive and inclusive development, bridge the developmental gaps and take governance and development right to the doorsteps of every citizen, particularly those residing in the remotest corners of our State,” Dr Rio said adding “This is not just an administrative arrangement, but a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to ensure equitable development, unity and progress for all sections of our people.”
CM highlights background of FNTA
The Chief Minister said that to fulfill their aspirations for accelerated and inclusive development, the people of Eastern Nagaland, under the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO), sought a special institutional arrangement in the form of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority for themselves.
The State Government fully appreciating the aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland, extended its full support and proactively worked with ENPO and the Government of India to take it forward.
“We all engaged in a series of sincere, detailed and constructive consultations to build and our collective endeavour bore fruit in the form of the landmark Memorandum of Agreement signed on the 5th of February, 2026, between the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland, and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation, for the constitution of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority within the State of Nagaland,” CM noted.
As per clause 3.3 of the Memorandum of Agreement, the FNTA is to be constituted under a special legislation to be enacted by the State Government in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The State Government accordingly, soon after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) set about preparing the Bill incorporating the various provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement and as per the legal advice of Advocate General of Nagaland.
The provision of conferment of legislative powers on the FNTA through a State legislation in the way as envisaged in the Agreement was recognised as a matter requiring further clarity and the same was brought to the notice of MHA under clause 3.3 of the MoA.
Subsequently, upon a communication received from MHA requesting the State Government to initiate action in terms of clause no. 3.3 of MoA for constitution of FNTA under a State Legislation, a draft Bill after being vetted by the Ld. Advocate General of the State, was submitted to MHA on 17 March 2026.
Meanwhile the State Government received a representation from ENPO on behalf of the 8 Tribes of Eastern Nagaland on March 26, 2026, requesting for passing the FNTA Bill during the 8th session NLA of which was ongoing then.
The August House is aware that the Bill for the constitution of FNTA was accordingly introduced in the House on 26.03.2026.
However, later on the same day, the State Government was requested by the Ministry of Home Affairs for taking any further action with regard to the FNTA Bill only after receipt of their views and opinion on matters concerning conferment of legislative powers to FNTA which had been flagged to it earlier by the State Government.
urther, on the same day, the State Government also received an appeal from ENPO requesting that the provisions of the MoA signed on 5th February, 2026, be upheld while passing the FNTA Bill, 2026.
The ENLU also submitted a letter requesting for deferring the passage of the FNTA Bill until such time that all the concerns are adequately addressed and clarity is attained on the MoA.
“In view of the request made by the Government of India, and the appeal of ENPO and the request made by ENLU, the consideration and passing of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill, 2026 which was presented on 26.03.2026 was requested to be deferred, and also that the Bill be referred back to the State Government for further examination, “the Chief Minister said.
The Bill was accordingly returned to the State Government by the Assembly Secretariat.
On September 1 2026, the first day of 9th session of the 14th NLA, the Bill which was laid in the Assembly on 26th March 2026 has been withdrawn with the permission of the House.
The State Government again initiated the process of revisiting the provisions of the MoA on which further clarity was necessitated and for suitably bringing them in the proposed Bill so that the concerns of everyone could be suitably addressed.
There were consultations also with various stakeholders and it was reiterated that while moving forward for resolving the issues concerning FNTA, Article 371 A should not be subject to any amendment.
Meanwhile, ENPO in a letter dated June 10, 2026 requested the State Government to expedite the constitution of FNTA based on the MoA, and to start the process of consultation with the MHA as per clause 3.3 and to constitute FNTA in accordance with the MoA at the earliest without dilution.
On June 24, a Cabinet delegation led by Chief Minister met the Union Home Minister at New Delhi and discussed about the constitution of FNTA including the constitutional and legal aspects.
The cabinet also requested the MHA to hold discussions at its level with the ENPO on the various issues concerning FNTA for their amicable and early resolution, keeping in mind the constitutional and legal position as well as the basic principles concerning FNTA.
Earlier on June 23, the ENPO wrote to Union Home Minister requesting for urgent intervention to adopt effective route for creation of FNTA in accordance with MoA.
This was followed by a ENPO circular on July 3, 2026, for conduct of a peaceful public rally at all the district Headquarters of Eastern Nagaland on the matter concerning FNTA.
The rally was for reaffirmation of the People's commitment to the MoA and also to impress upon the Government of India and the State Government to make way for the smooth implementation of FNTA without any delay, the Circular asserted.
Thereafter, CM Rio informed that that a cabinet meeting was convened on July, 2026 on matters concerning FNTA, with the presence of ENLU members.
After detailed deliberations on the various issues concerning the constitution of FNTA, the Cabinet decided that the State Government will convene a Special NLA Session the purpose of enacting legislation for constitution of FNTA, which would include the necessary legislative provisions to confer legislative powers upon the FNTA in respect of the transferred subjects/departments for the districts under FNTA, in consultation and with the approval of the MHA, and in consonance with the Constitution.
He said that the Cabinet decided to reiterate that, while undertaking this process, the provisions and safeguards enshrined under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India are to be treated as inviolable and shall neither be diluted nor altered in any manner whatsoever.
The Cabinet also decided that the State Government will place a request with the Government of India to enhance the proposed economic package/special developmental grant in the MoA, which was Rs 5,000 crore to a minimum of Rs 10,000 crore, so as to accelerate comprehensive development, economic growth and progress across Eastern Nagaland.
It was also decided that a Cabinet Delegation led by the Chief Minister including members of the ENLU shall proceed to New Delhi for onward advise, approval and guidance of the Gol.
A public statement was accordingly also issued by the Home Department in regard to the constitution of FNTA, along with the decisions taken by the Cabinet in the meeting held on July 6 and with an appeal to ENPO to reconsider its proposed Public Rally.
Subsequently, in the Press Communiqué on July 7, 2026, the ENPO welcomed the State Government's announcement to hold a special Assembly session to discuss on the FNTA issue and called off the proposed public rally.
In line with the decision of the State Cabinet held on July 6, a revised draft Bill including the necessary provisions for legislative powers to FNTA and in consonance with the Constitutional scheme, was accordingly prepared on the advice of the State Advocate General.
Subsequently, Chief Minister along with his Cabinet Colleagues and other senior officials of the State met the MHA and after holding discussions submitted the revised draft Bill on July 16 to MHA under Clause 3.3 of the MoA for further examination and advice.
Further, as decided in the Cabinet meeting held on July 6, the State Government also submitted letter to MHA for enhancement of the special development Grants to FNTA under clause 11.2 of the MoA.
Meanwhile, in a meeting held on July 16, the MHA conveyed that it will examine and hold further consultations on the revised draft Bill and revert to the State Government with its advice and comments.
CM Rio said that the State Government subsequently received a communication dated August 11, 2026 from the MHA in response to the revised draft Bill for constitution of FNTA submitted to MHA by the State Government on 16.
It was stated by MHA that the draft Bill was examined by it in consultation with Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India.
Further, the revised draft Bill was also discussed by it with ENPO, who had made a number of suggestions therein.
The MHA in its communication requested that the State Government may consider appropriately incorporating certain suggestions in the Bill, pertaining to insertion of words in the preamble upholding the autonomy of FNTA, and for expanding the ambit of consultation with FNTA for postings of officers/officials within FNTA.
The powers of FNTA on matters concerning transfer and posting within Authority were also suggested to be enhanced.
The suggestions made by MHA were examined in light of the provisions of the MoA and the views and opinion of the Advocate General was taken.
“Thereafter, a meeting was held under my chairmanship along with all my Cabinet colleagues and the members of ENLU, with the ENPO, on 25th August 2026. In the meeting there were deliberations on the matter concerning the constitution of FNTA. The suggestions received vide MHA communication dated 11th August 2026 was discussed,” CM Rio said.
The meeting with ENPO was followed by the meeting of the Cabinet wherein further deliberations were held on the issues concerning the constitution of FNTA and the suggestions communicated by the MHA vide its letter dated August 11, 2026. The opinion of the Advocate General and the discussions in the meeting held earlier with the ENPO was taken note of.
The Cabinet decided for making the insertions and additions in the Bill as necessary for suitably attending to the suggestions made and also keeping in mind the discussions held and approved for tabling the Bill in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said.
A copy of the Bill as approved by the Cabinet has also been submitted to MHA in terms of clause 3.3 of the MoA which provides for consultation with it and the Bill has accordingly been introduced in the NLA on 1st September 2026.
