The ongoing dispute over Nagaland’s job reservation policy has intensified in 2025. Five advanced tribes have demanded a revision of the policy within 30 days. The government formed a panel to review the quota system but faced criticism over its composition and name. The controversy marks deep-rooted tribal dynamics and differing views on reservation benefits.
Background of Nagaland’s Job Reservation Policy
Nagaland introduced job reservations for indigenous Scheduled Tribes soon after statehood in 1963. The policy reserves 80% of state government jobs for Scheduled Tribes. In 1977, 11 Backward Tribes (BTs) were identified for reservation within a reservation. Currently, 37% of non-technical and non-gazetted jobs are reserved for BTs. The quota is split between seven tribes in eastern Nagaland (25%) and four others (12%). This system has remained largely unchanged for decades.
Demands for Policy Revision by Five Tribes
In 2024, the Five Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) sought a reassessment of the quota system. They argued the policy was outdated and no longer suited the current socio-economic conditions. The CoRRP demanded either scrapping the policy or allocating the entire 20% unreserved quota to themselves. They criticised the government for ignoring a previous review order from 1989. The committee set a 30-day ultimatum in April 2025 for government action.
Government and Opposition Responses
Student and social groups from beneficiary tribes opposed changes fearing loss of their share. The government has been cautious to avoid conflict. Following the ultimatum, CoRRP suspended protests after assurances of a review panel by June 2025. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated major reforms should wait until after the 2027 Census. In August, a seven-member Job Reservation Commission was formed but faced criticism for bias and lack of neutrality.
Issues with Review Commission and Current Impasse
The CoRRP rejected the first commission due to inclusion of members representing BT interests. A second commission formed in September was criticised for being named ‘Reservation Review Commission’ instead of ‘Job Reservation Commission’. This semantic difference suggested reluctance to revise the policy seriously. The dispute over the panel’s name and composition remains unresolved, prolonging the stalemate.
Reservation Distribution and Employment Data
Government data shows that five non-BT tribes hold 64% of government jobs while BT tribes occupy 34%. This disparity fuels demands for revision by the five tribes. The current reservation system’s complexity and regional divisions contribute to tensions among tribal groups.
Significance of Census and Future Prospects
The 2027 national Census is expected to provide updated demographic data. The government plans to base any major reservation or delimitation reforms on this data. Until then, the policy review remains in limbo amid competing tribal interests and political caution.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the role of job reservation policies in addressing socio-economic disparities among indigenous communities in India, taking the example of Nagaland.
- Examine the challenges of implementing reservation policies in multi-ethnic states. How do these challenges affect social cohesion and governance?
- Discuss in the light of Nagaland’s reservation dispute, the importance of demographic data such as Census in policy formulation and administrative reforms.
- Analyse the impact of tribal identity politics on state governance and development in Northeast India. With suitable examples, discuss strategies to balance competing tribal interests.
