Nagaland’s Merit Crisis

The state’s administrative apparatus in Nagaland is once again seized by paralysis, a familiar and corrosive symptom of a deeper malaise-the systemic betrayal of meritocracy. For decades, the practice of “backdoor appointment” has persisted like an open wound, undermining the very foundation of public trust and bureaucratic excellence. This perennial crisis has now reached a boiling point, culminating in a crippling statewide strike that has brought governance to a standstill since August 28.The protest is led by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), representing the apex state’ services association such as – the Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees Association (CANSSEA), Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Services Association (FONSESA), Nagaland Inservice Doctors Association (NIDA), Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA), and Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association (NF&ASA). Their collective stand is against what they describe, as a blatant violation of established rules in selecting state officers for induction into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre.At the core of the dispute lies the integrity of the IAS induction process. The JCC cited the IAS (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, which dictate that empanelment must be confined to officers from the State Civil Service (SCS) or equivalent state selection boards. Crucially, while a maximum of 15% within the overall 33.33% state quota-is reserved for Non-SCS officers, this pathway is meant to be highly stringent, selecting only those with “outstanding merit and ability.” The JCC’s contention is that officers appointed without clearing the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) or a recognized state board examination cannot legitimately claim to possess this outstanding merit. They reminded the government of its own commitments-the 2001 mandate for all appointments to be through the NPSC, and the 2016 ban on contract appointments. A merit-based vacancy circular had been issued on July 6, 2020, for non-SCS induction, and this principle was upheld by a subsequent circular on March 10, 2025. However, just days before the application window closed, the State Cabinet suddenly annulled the March 10 circular. The government explained it as a “bureaucratic procedural lapse,” arguing that the NPSC eligibility clause was inconsistent with long-standing practice. The government promptly issued a revised version on March 27, 2025, removing the NPSC requirement. The JCC rightly dismisses this defense as a “hollow argument,” a cynical obfuscation designed to justify bypassing merit. JCC pointed out that the fact that an identical criterion used in the 2019 selection was suddenly found to be “defective” suggests not a lapse in procedure, but a calculated attempt to cloak favouritism and nepotism. The only logical conclusion is the JCC’s assertion: the cabinet machinery was “utilised” to serve specific, “vested interests.”The JCC’s demand-the delisting of all backdoor appointees and an immediate end to political patronage-is a cry for justice from a populace that sees hundreds compete rigorously for a single post. When the state, as the primary source of employment, continuously signals that political connection outweighs competence, it crushes the aspiration of its youth. It inhibits genuine social transformation and suffocates any potential for laying the groundwork for economic progress. Private enterprise, which is key to job creation, will never flourish in an environment where the administrative leadership itself lacks integrity.Unless the government demonstrates genuine, unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability, and unless the illegal practice of backdoor appointments is definitively eradicated, Nagaland is doomed to a cycle of stagnation and deep public skepticism.