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Context:

The Nagaland government to submit feedback on Increased autonomy for the eastern districts.

Why is there a demand for greater autonomy in Eastern Nagaland ?

Eastern Nagaland refers to the state's six eastern districts: Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang. 

• These districts are home to members of seven tribes — Konyak, Khiamniungan, Chang, Sangtam, Tikhir, Phom, and Yimkhiung — who represent more than 30% of the state's population. 
• They also account for 20 of the Assembly's 60 seats.

The demand for a separate state of Nagaland's eastern districts started more than a decade ago, when the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office in November 2010.

• Due to a "development deficit" in the region, the group requested a separate state with special status and provisions. 
• The lack of development in the region has continued to fuel the demand for a separate state.

Recent Issues

In August 2022, the ENPO decided to boycott the Assembly elections unless the separate state demand was met. However, weeks before the state's elections, the ENPO cancelled its boycott call, due to assurances from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that a "mutually agreed-upon solution" would be reached and implemented.

Early this year, the Centre sent a draft Memorandum of Settlement to the Nagaland government for feedback.

Nagaland Parliamentary Affairs Minister recently said that discussions with the ENPO and ENLU (Eastern Nagaland Legislators' Union) had taken place, and the government will soon submit its report to the Centre.

What kind of arrangement for autonomy is being discussed?

Discussions have focused on establishing a "unique arrangement" within Nagaland known as the "Frontier Naga Territory," which would have its own legislature, executive, and financial powers.

The state government proposed an arrangement centered in the state capital Kohima, with a regional council based in East Nagaland with authority over local issues. It would be in line with Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which currently provides for a regional council for this region. 

What are the provisions for an Eastern Nagaland regional council?

The Naga People's Convention and the Union Government reached a 16-point agreement in 1963 to create Nagaland from Assam.  

The State has a special constitutional provision under Article 371(A) that protects Naga customary law. 

Read about Article 371 (A) in detail: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/article-371-a

The earlier undivided Tuensang district - which later became the six present districts - is governed directly by the Governor under both the 1963 agreement and Article 371(A).

The agreement specified that this arrangement would last for ten years, "until such time when the tribes in the Tuensang District are capable of taking more responsibility for the advanced system of administration".

Article 371(A) established a 35-member regional council for the Tuensang district, with the authority to nominate members to the legislative assembly. The 1963 system was eventually abolished at the end of ten years, in 1973, and the region took part in state legislative assembly elections for the first time.

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Source: 

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements: 1. The issue of Special Category Status (SCS) first came up when the Gadgil  Formula of fund allocation was approved by the National Development Council in 1969.  2. The decision to grant Special Category Status to any State is taken by the National Development  Council, which is the sole body competent to do so. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 only C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: C Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: In April 1969, the National Development Council approved the Gadgil Formula for fund allocation, which raised the issue of Special Category Status (SCS).  Central Assistance was provided to Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Nagaland through a 90% grant and 10% loan structure.  Himachal Pradesh received Special Category Status in 1970-71, followed by Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura in 1971-72, Sikkim in 1975-76, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram in 1986-87, and Uttarakhand in 2001-02. Statement 2 is correct: The decision to grant Special Category Status to any State is taken by the National Development  Council, which is the sole body competent to do so. There are no separate constitutional provisions,  legislation or executive orders for the same.