Five prominent service associations in Nagaland have united to challenge the state government’s recent move to drop a merit-based provision from the IAS induction guidelines issued on 10 March 2025. Their protest centers on concerns that the removal opens doors for non-NPSC entrants, potentially compromising fairness in recruitment.
Kohima: A Growing Rift in Nagaland’s Bureaucracy
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), a collective representing five key service groups, has called for the immediate reintroduction of a clause in the IAS selection process that prioritizes officers recruited through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The clause, they argue, is essential to uphold merit and transparency in administrative appointments.
Triggering the Dispute
The controversy began with the release of a government circular on 10 March 2025, inviting applications for IAS induction from State Services. The original document clearly stated that only officers who entered service via NPSC were eligible.
However, shortly after the application deadline passed, the circular was abruptly rescinded. This sudden reversal has led many within the JCC to suspect that the change was orchestrated to benefit a specific individual who did not meet the NPSC requirement.
Why the Outcry?
According to the JCC, eliminating the NPSC clause undermines principles of equal opportunity enshrined in Article 16 of the Constitution. They believe the clause was a safeguard for merit-based selection and its removal signals a shift toward preferential treatment for non-NPSC officers — a move they deem regressive and unjust.
They also cite precedent: a similar circular issued on 6 July 2020 included the NPSC clause and led to a successful and controversy-free induction. The timing of the 2025 circular’s withdrawal — after the application window closed — has further fueled their skepticism.
Key Demands from the Associations
The JCC has outlined a set of specific demands:
Reinstate Clause 4 from the original 10 March 2025 circular, which restricted eligibility to NPSC-recruited officers.
Exclude all non-NPSC candidates from the IAS induction list submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Ensure that future IAS selections strictly adhere to merit-based norms and maintain full transparency in the process.
Protest Measures and Fallout
The JCC, comprising:
Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA)
Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association (FONSESA)
Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA)
Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association (NIDA)
Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association (NF&ASA)
initiated a three-day pen-down strike starting 14 October, affecting operations across government offices. While employees reported to work, they refrained from performing official duties. The protest has been positioned as a stand for the future of Nagaland’s youth and the sanctity of its civil service system.
Government’s Silence and Rising Tensions
Despite mounting pressure, the state administration has yet to respond publicly to the JCC’s demands. The lack of engagement has intensified unrest, with calls for further action gaining momentum.
