Nagaland celebrated its 63rd Statehood Day with grandeur and a renewed call for unity, peace, and inclusive development at Secretariat Plaza, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima on 1st December 2025.
It began with a Parade Review by Rupin Sharma, IPS, Director General of Police, Nagaland. The March Past included contingents from the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th NAP Battalions, 15th NAP (IR) Battalion, Village Guards, NPTS Central Brass Band, Nagaland Police Auxiliary Brass Band, and the 15th NAP (IR) Mahila Pipe Band. Akihito X. Sumi, NPS, Dy. Commandant, 1st NAP Bn., served as the Parade Commander, while Zaren Yanthan, NPS, Asst. Commandant, 2nd NAP Bn., was the Second-in-Command.
Addressing the people of the State, the Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio extended his warm greetings and reflected on Nagaland’s journey since Statehood, honouring the leaders and visionaries who laid the foundations for a progressive and resilient society.
Reiterating Commitment to Early Naga Political Solution, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to achieving an honourable and inclusive settlement to the Naga Political Issue. He said the efforts of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), comprising Ministers, Advisors, representatives of all political parties and Members of Parliament, which met on 1st September 2025 and unanimously endorsed the Ungma Statement of 23rd August 2025. Dr. Rio emphasised the Committee’s call for all Naga Political Groups, backed by Tribal Hohos, to converge on a common platform and pursue a shared political vision. He also recalled the broad-based consultative meeting held on 12 September 2024 where stakeholders appealed to the Government of India to elevate the peace dialogue to the highest political level. The Chief Minister made a fresh appeal to the Naga Political Groups, the Government of India, and all stakeholders to “appreciate the pressing urgency” to reach a final settlement without further delay.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Eastern Nagaland and acknowledging developmental gaps, the Chief Minister stated that the Government remains committed to addressing the aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland, particularly their demand for an arrangement under the Frontier Nagaland Territory Area (FNTA). Following tripartite talks in September 2025 involving the Government of India, the State Government and ENPO, and subsequent departmental consultations, the CM said the State is hopeful for an early and mutually acceptable resolution.
Dr. Rio stated that the 26th Hornbill Festival 2025 will open with the largest ever International Participation adding that the Festival will welcome six Partner Countries including Austria, Malta, Switzerland, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom along with Arunachal Pradesh as the State Partner. He also announced that each partner nation will take part in dedicated roundtable sessions to explore cooperation in investment, culture, arts, agriculture, sports, education, and the creative economy.
Also highlighting on Youth-Centric Development and Sports Achievements, Chief Minister reiterated that youth development remains at the core of the Government’s policies. In this regard Rio announced that 31 indoor stadiums and 28 futsal grounds have been sanctioned and ₹23 lakh per Assembly Constituency has been earmarked as a “District Sports Fund” starting from 2025–26. He mentioned that the State has made remarkable progress in Sports as the State prepares to host the Asian Women’s SepakTakraw Championship 2026 and has recently hosted the 69th National School Games Taekwondo Championship.
Dr. Rio said that to strengthen Higher Education, the Government has created 129 new Assistant Professor posts and four new Model Degree Colleges have been approved for Niuland, Shamator, Noklak and Tseminyu. He mentioned that a significant progress was reported in Technical Education, with the NEP 2020 curriculum in effect and an AI Lab established at ICIT Mokokchung under Intel India. He went on to say that the Nagaland Innovation Hub for Startups is also being set up at Chumoukedima to boost youth entrepreneurship. He also pointed out that major AI and future skill initiatives SAMARTH and the AI & Future Skills Centre of Excellence were inaugurated during the visit of the Union Finance Minister in November 2025. Highlighting the World Bank supported NECTAR Project he said that Lighthouse School Complexes were being constructed in 16 districts, while examination reforms and a new music education initiative with Yamaha India are underway.
CM also announced significant progress in transportation infrastructure and that on air connectivity, four strategic landing strips are proposed at Kohima (Ciethu), Mokokchung, Mon and Tuensang. Additionally, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified Noune, Shilloi and Doyang Lake as inland waterway corridors for tourism and water sports, he added.
The State achieved a major upgrade with the Nagarjan Substation’s capacity being raised to 350 MVA and a new 220/132/33kV substation at Tsitrongse is under construction to meet rising power demands, he added.
Rio mentioned that Urban Development saw notable progress with a two-day orientation for newly elected municipal councillors and the provision of sanitation vehicles to Urban Local Bodies. He also added that the inauguration of the Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco-Park built with support from Japan was a symbol of international friendship.
In healthcare, initiatives under the SwasthNari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan continue state-wide, while Nagaland achieved zero malaria cases in seven districts and a 400-bedded Medical College Hospital at NIMSR, Kohima, is being developed with JICA support, Rio added.
In Agriculture, Industry and Rural Livelihoods State continues to scale up agricultural initiatives under Agri. Stack, with machine-learning enabled analytics to boost productivity. He highlighted that Horticulture, Sericulture and Fisheries projects continue to expand, while Nagaland’s coffee sector is emerging as a regional leader with exports to South Africa, the EU and the Middle East. The 219th Coffee Board of India Meeting, held in Kohima, was a landmark first for the Northeast, he added.
Dr. Rio also highlighted that the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission now supports more than 1.36 lakh rural households across 15,434 SHGs, while MGNREGA provided work to 2.59 lakh households, with women contributing nearly 50% of person-days. He said that Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA) continues to strengthen infrastructure in remote regions through the UDAP and the Vibrant Village Programme and construction of the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon district an important cultural landmark is nearing completion.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister remarked that Nagaland is the most peaceful state in the country without any incident of serious law and order situation and no major security challenge. While appreciating the Centre’s decision to relax the PAP regime for the Hornbill Festival following the State’s request, the Chief Minister has urged the Government of India to consider permanently withdrawing the PAP regime from Nagaland to boost tourism and economic growth. He also called upon citizens to work together to build a prosperous, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable future.
Other highlights of the programme included virtual inauguration of 120 ‘Children and Adolescents Libraries and Digital Infrastructure and the Nagaland Scholarship Nodal Cell (NSNC), released of documented books (Phase 1) on Traditional Attires and Ornaments of 10 indigenous tribes of Nagaland, release of the DREAM Nagaland book, publications under PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launch of Nagaland Entrepreneurship & Impact Forum 2035, launch of StateSync App and ‘Discover Kisama’ App, distribution of tablet computers to accredited journalists, and the flag-off of 10 sanitation vehicles to Urban Local Bodies by the Chief Minister .
Dr. Rio also inaugurated a photo exhibition titled “Journey of Nagaland Down the Decades,” organised by the Department of Information & Public Relations. The exhibition showcased a wide collection of photographs ranging from the pre-statehood period to contemporary developments in the State.
The Programme was attended by Dignitaries, HoDs, AHoDs , government employees and general public.
(Ikedalule, APRO; Esuihangle, IA; Maongtemjen, IA & Mainodi Naben, IA)
