Presidential assent granted to Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill

President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, establishing an autonomous administrative arrangement for six eastern districts in Nagaland: Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator.

The bill was unanimously passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 3. The new authority is designed to provide decentralized governance by devolving powers over 46 subjects to the FNTA, aiming to address long-standing developmental disparities and regional neglect in the area.

This development follows a tripartite memorandum of agreement signed on February 5, 2026, between the Government of India, the Nagaland government, and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO). The FNTA framework serves as an alternative to the ENPO’s long-standing demand for a separate state, seeking to fulfill regional aspirations through increased local participation in decision-making.