Advisor Water Resources, Tongpang Ozukum through a starred question asked the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home Y Patton whether some districts were unable to fill their allotted quota in the ongoing police constable recruitment due to candidates failing the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and sought details on the total number of posts that remain unfilled on Day-3 of the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at NLA Hall, Kohima on 9th March 2026.
Replying to the question, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Yanthungo Patton said that certain districts have indeed been unable to fill their allotted quota due to candidates failing the physical fitness test. He informed the House that Mokokchung has 43 unfilled posts, Longleng 1, Tseminyu 3, and Wokha 1, while Dimapur, Chumoukedima and Niuland together have 30 male and 2 female unfilled posts, bringing the total number of vacancies to 80.
While acknowledging the reply, Ozukum appreciated the initiative of the Home Department in conducting the constable recruitment after a long gap, stating that it was a welcome step particularly for the unemployed youth of the state.
Raising a supplementary question, Tongpang also asked whether the unfilled posts would be filled through a separate recruitment for the concerned districts. Responding to this, Patton said that there will be no separate recruitment for these vacancies, and the posts will also not be included in the next departmental recruitment advertisement. Instead, the backlog vacancies will be advertised separately by the department through a recruitment drive, and the posts will remain within the respective districts and tribes concerned.
During the discussion, several members including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Achumbemo Kikon and Pongshi Phom also raised concerns and offered suggestions regarding the physical and written tests. The members suggested that the department should review the weightage of the written examination and place greater emphasis on the physical test, considering that policing largely requires physical capability.
Responding to the suggestions, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the views expressed by the members have been taken into consideration and a report will be submitted after review.
 
       Replying to the starred question by MLA Naiba Konyak on whether any amount was sanctioned for Horti-Link roads during 2025-26 Minister incharge of Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse said that an amount of 200 lakhs was sanctioned during 2025-26 for construction of 10 Horti Link roads under the State Plan (RIDF-NABARD). Kruse also said that a proposal for Horti-Link roads during 2026-27 has been submitted under the sectoral outlay through RIDF (NABARD).
 
(Esuihangle, IA)