Nagaland police would recruit 1,176 constables from among the indigenous inhabitants of the state within four months under a new system designed to make the process transparent, inclusive and accessible.
Director General of Police (DGP) Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, announced this at Police Headquarters (PHQ) here Tuesday, saying the results were expected to be declared by December or January.
For the first time, the entire process would be conducted fully online, with applications accepted only through the official portal (nagalandpolicerecruitment.in) between October 6 (12 noon) and November 7 (3 pm).
DGP clarified that no candidate was required to collect or submit forms at police offices.
He said the move would enable applicants from the remotest areas of Nagaland and students studying outside the state to participate with ease, while reducing expenses and eliminating malpractice.
The portal offers two modes of application—self-application and assisted application.
In both cases, a one-time password (OTP) would only be sent to the applicant’s personal phone number to ensure authenticity. The system also introduces a One-Time Registration (OTR) process, under which candidates could register their details once and reuse them for future recruitment cycles.
Registration is free, though application fees will apply for each examination.
Once submitted, details cannot be altered after closure of the application window. On eligibility, DGP informed that the age limit was between 18–38 years, with concessions for serving government employees as per rules.
The same ID proof used during registration must be carried consistently through all stages. He cautioned applicants not to mistake registration numbers for roll numbers and not to fall prey to fake or photocopied documents.
All successful candidates would be initially placed in the Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB) to keep the units young and physically fit, with scope for transfer later to the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) or District Executive Force (DEF).
Training of recruits would be carried out within existing infrastructure, with trainers already shortlisted.
On tribal representation, DGP said that the distribution of posts would follow the tribe-wise population ratio of the 2011 Census, a decision taken by the state cabinet.
He said the move aims to make the force more cosmopolitan and reduce tribalism, a policy supported by both the chief minister and deputy chief minister.
Seats for certain sub-tribes have been kept in abeyance as per government directives. Minimum education requirements are set at Class-VI for backward tribes and Class-VIII for indigenous Naga tribes.
In line with these criteria, he said OMR-based written examinations may not be conducted to ensure inclusivity.
Underscoring strict measures against drug and substance abuse, DGP informed that candidates would be tested not only during recruitment but also at any stage of service. He said immediate disqualification or termination would follow for violators.
Compulsory medical and physical tests—including checks for height, chest, flat foot, night blindness and colour blindness—would be conducted, with automatic rejection for those failing to meet standards.
On safeguards and fairness, DGP emphasized that “internal surveillance mechanisms” would monitor the recruitment process, leaving no room for bribes, favouritism or political interference.
Acknowledging that recommendations may arise, he assured that those would be dealt with appropriately. Recruitment boards are yet to be finalized.
To widen access, the police have tied up with Common Service Centres (CSCs) across all districts to assist applicants. Service providers cannot charge more than Rs. 36 plus payment gateway fees.
In addition, help desks have been set up at PHQ and district levels, while a short instructional video on the use of the portal will be widely circulated.
Currently, Nagaland police have a strength of around 25,400 personnel, with 1,200–1,300 vacancies remaining even after the advertisement of 1,176 constable posts. Depending on the outcome of an ongoing High Court case, the state government plans to hold one or two more recruitment cycles in the coming years.
Appealing to the public to keep the process free from malpractice, DGP urged candidates not to wait until the last moment to apply and to approach official help desks for assistance rather than relying on false promises.
RPP dismayed at omission of non-Naga indigenous tribes
Welcoming the state government’s announcement of recruitment drive to fill 1,176 posts of general-duty constables through “Open Rally”, the Rising People’s Party (RPP) has expressed dismay that non-Naga indigenous tribes of the state continued to be marginalized.
In a press release, RPP said the recruitment notification invited only those applicants who were categorized as belonging to the indigenous Naga tribes of Nagaland.
RPP said that omission of non-Naga indigenous tribes of the state from job opportunities reflected poorly on the policy makers of the state.
“The omission is part of the greater malaise related to quota distribution in the state,” the party asserted.
RPP stated that everyone has an opinion regarding the backward quota in the state in terms of review/revocation/suspension/dilution, etc. However, the party stated that only a few speak out for the inclusion of the most marginalized communities, such as, the non-Naga indigenous inhabitants of the state, who, it maintained “above everyone else, deserve the Backward Quota the most.”
RPP has urged the state government to see to that the “politics of the majority” did not victimize the livelihood and the dignity of the non-Naga tribal minorities of the state.