President Droupadi Murmu Approves Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026 Passed by Nagaland Assembly

Key facts

• President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was passed unanimously by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 3, 2026.
• The Bill provides for creating the FNTA with legislative, executive and financial autonomy for six eastern Nagaland districts — Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator — based on the spirit of Article 371A of the Constitution.
• During the transitional period, the Nagaland government will constitute an interim council to oversee the FNTA for one year from its constitution or until the first FNTA is constituted, whichever is earlier.
• Special constitutional provisions under Article 371A, the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 and exemption from Panchayati Raj will continue to apply to the FNTA without amendment or dilution.
• The Bill follows a February 5 memorandum of agreement between the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO), which has demanded a separate state for eastern Nagaland since 2010 and represents the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung and Eastern Sumi tribes.