Nagaland govt reiterates freeze on new posts, fresh recruitment

DP&AR lays down operational guidelines for strict compliance by all depts & establishments

Moa Jamir 
Dimapur | September 15

The Nagaland Government has reiterated its interim restrictions on the creation of new posts and induction of fresh recruitment pending completion of the ongoing comprehensive rationalisation exercise.

To this end, the Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department (P&AR) issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on September 14 with detailed operational guidelines requiring strict compliance by all departments and establishments.

No new posts pending rationalisation
The move follows the constitution of the Working Group on Comprehensive Manpower Rationalisation under the State Level Committee on Expenditure Rationalisation and Revenue Mobilisation (SLC-ERRM), notified on July 15, 2026.

The Working Group has been given a strict three-month timeline to assess staffing requirements across the State and submit its recommendations to the Government. With two months already elapsed, it now has exactly one month remaining to complete the exercise.

Accordingly, pending its report, no proposal for creation of new posts is to be processed, including those arising from cadre reviews already under consideration, the OM stated. 

In exceptional circumstances, an Administrative Department may place a Cabinet Memorandum explaining the necessity for creation of a post. 

However, the OM clarified that approval to consider or endorse such justification will not itself constitute approval for creation of the post.

Tightening on filling vacancies & fresh requisitions
The restrictions extend to filling existing vacancies and fresh recruitment or engagement, with the OM stating that no such proposal to be processed without prior examination by the Manpower Rationalisation Committee (MRC).

Fresh recruitment is broadly defined to include direct recruitment, contractual and fixed-pay appointments, certain ex-cadre appointments from State resources where funds have not already been approved or budgeted, and any other mode resulting in induction of new personnel against sanctioned or approved posts.

Proposals to fill vacancies, including those arising from retirement, must first be examined by the MRC after obtaining requisite clearances from the P&AR and Finance Departments, wherever applicable, the OM added. 

Following the MRC’s recommendation, the proposal will be placed before the SLC-ERRM and subsequently before the State Cabinet for a final decision.

Departments, Boards, State PSUs, State Corporations and Government institutions have also been barred from issuing advertisements or sending requisitions for vacancies to the NPSC, NSSB or other recruiting agencies without the required recommendations and Cabinet decision.

The Government has also directed departments to refrain from expanding staffing, including through new establishments, additional workforce, enhanced sanctioned strength or post upgradation, without prior Finance Department concurrence.

Key exemptions 
Meanwhile, the OM clarified that recruitment processes for which advertisements had already been issued or requisitions placed with the NPSC, NSSB, DRB or LDRB before September 14 will not be affected by the latest OM.

However, with effect from July 15, 2026, the date on which the Working Group was notified, the NPSC and NSSB will not accept any fresh requisition for recruitment unless the proposal has obtained the prescribed SLC-ERRM and Cabinet approvals, it said. 

Proposals submitted in violation of the instructions will not be processed and proposals already pending consideration are to be returned to the concerned Administrative Department for fresh submission in accordance with the new provisions, it added. 

Compassionate appointments, however, have been specifically exempted from the new interim measures.

The instructions will remain in force until further orders or until revised directions are issued based on the recommendations of the Working Group, the OM added.