With the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) intensifying its agitation through a statewide “tools down” strike, the Nagaland government on Thursday recalled the panel of names submitted to the UPSC for the 2024 IAS select list of Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) officers.
The JCC — comprising CANSSEA, Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association, Nagaland Secretariat Service Association, Nagaland Finance and Accounts Service Association, and the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association — escalated its protest after over 40 days of peaceful agitation.
On Thursday, it launched the fourth phase of the protest, with government drivers’ unions and the Civil Secretariat Grade-IV Staff Employees Association joining the strike. The JCC said it was forced to act due to the government’s inaction on restoring the March 10 vacancy circular and removing non-NPSC or “backdoor” candidates from the IAS consideration list.
The agitation, which began on September 24 with black badge demonstrations, moved through poster campaigns and pen-down strikes. The JCC stated that essential services such as transport, sanitation, power, and healthcare would remain exempt to ensure the movement stays peaceful.
As the strike disrupted government functioning, the state Cabinet held an emergency meeting Thursday evening. Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen said the Cabinet observed that though a vacancy circular for IAS induction had been approved by the competent authority in 2020, no Cabinet memorandum or policy decision followed. It also noted that the March 10, 2025 circular was issued without such approval.
Taking into account new facts and representations from CANSSEA and others, the Cabinet decided to recall the panel of names submitted to UPSC on September 26, 2025. It further resolved to revisit previous decisions and review eligibility norms for Non-SCS officers’ induction into the IAS, in consultation with DoPT, UPSC, and other stakeholders.
Appealing for cooperation, the government urged all associations to call off the strike.
Meanwhile, a JCC spokesperson said the Cabinet’s move fulfilled their demand, but a final stand would be taken after consultations with all participating associations.
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