Nagaland Assembly passes FNTA Bill for eastern districts

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026. The legislation aims to establish an autonomous authority to improve governance, decentralize power, and accelerate development in six eastern districts: Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator.

The FNTA will consist of 62 members and will hold legislative, executive, administrative, and financial powers over 46 subjects. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the bill seeks to fulfill long-standing aspirations of the region, which has historically lagged behind other parts of the state due to geographical and developmental factors.

The passage of the bill follows a Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 5, 2026, between the Government of India, the Nagaland government, and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO). The ENPO has been advocating for regional autonomy or a separate state since 2010 to address socio-economic gaps affecting several local tribes.