KOHIMA |  President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026, marking a significant step towards greater administrative autonomy for six districts in Eastern Nagaland.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced the development, thanking the President and acknowledging the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for facilitating the process. Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton also welcomed the decision, describing it as an important step towards equitable development and greater administrative empowerment for the eastern districts.

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed the Bill on September 3, following the introduction of a revised draft on September 1.

With presidential assent secured, the next step is expected to be a formal notification by the state government to bring the legislation into force. The process will then move towards establishing an interim council and preparing for elections to the full authority.

Six districts to come under the authority

The FNTA will cover Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator. Its creation follows a Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 5, 2026, by the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), after years of negotiations over demands for greater autonomy in the region.

Under the proposed framework, the authority will exercise legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers over 46 subjects. These include school education, public health, agriculture, rural development, social welfare, tourism, fisheries and regional public works.

The arrangement is intended to bring decision-making closer to local communities and give the eastern districts a greater role in determining their development priorities.

62-member body, one-third seats reserved for women

The FNTA will have 62 members. Of these, 40 will be directly elected representatives, while 20 elected MLAs from the six districts will serve as ex-officio members without voting rights. The remaining two members will be nominated by the Governor from recognised tribes that are unrepresented or under-represented.

One-third of the directly elected seats will be reserved for women.

The authority’s executive functions will be handled by an Executive Council headed by a Chief Executive Member. The council will have a maximum of nine members.

During the initial transition, an interim council comprising 13 members will oversee the administration for up to one year or until elections to the first FNTA are completed.

Existing constitutional safeguards to continue

The legislation provides for the continuation of Nagaland’s existing constitutional and legal safeguards, including Article 371A of the Constitution and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which governs the Inner Line Permit system. The state’s exemption from the Panchayati Raj system will also remain in place.

The FNTA is intended to address long-standing demands in Eastern Nagaland for greater administrative control and a more equitable share of development. However, the authority’s effectiveness will depend on how responsibilities and financial resources are transferred, the capacity of its administration and coordination with the state government.

Presidential assent clears a major procedural hurdle. Formal notification, the constitution of the interim council and preparations for elections remain the key steps before the new authority becomes fully operational.