What is Nagaland’s job quota issue?, Pg14.

Key Highlights:

• Nagaland reserves 80% of State government jobs for all indigenous Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Of this, 37% of non-technical and non-gazetted posts are reserved for Backward Tribes (BTs).
• Division of quota: 25% for seven BTs from eastern Nagaland and 12% for four others.
• The Five Tribes Committee (CoRRP)—representing “advanced” tribes—has demanded either scrapping or revising the BT quota, arguing it no longer reflects current socio-economic realities.
• The State government formed a seven-member Job Reservation Commission on September 22, 2025, but disputes persist over its nomenclature and neutrality.

Detailed Insights:

• Background of Policy:
  • The job quota was introduced in 1977 to address educational and developmental backwardness among specific tribes.
  • It created a “reservation within reservation” among Nagaland’s Scheduled Tribes.
• Demands for Review:
  • The CoRRP argues the policy is outdated and should reflect the present socio-economic status of all tribes.
  • Suggested options: abolish the quota system entirely or redistribute the 20% unreserved jobs among advanced tribes.
• Government’s Response:
  • The government has proceeded cautiously to avoid backlash from BT communities.
  • Deputy CM Yanthungo Patton announced a commission to review the policy after the 2027 Census, indicating a cautious timeline.
• Continuing Stalemate:
  • CoRRP objected to the inclusion of members aligned with BT groups, alleging lack of neutrality.
  • It also criticized the renaming of the proposed “Reservation Review Commission” as a “Job Reservation Commission,” claiming the government was evading a full policy review.
• Political Sensitivity:
  • Reservation in Nagaland is intricately tied to tribal identity, regional balance, and autonomy, making reforms politically delicate.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Affirmative Action: Policy measures that provide preferential treatment to historically disadvantaged communities to ensure equality of opportunity.
• Reservation within Reservation: Sub-classification within reserved categories to ensure equitable benefits across differently placed sub-groups.
• Socio-Economic Indicators: Criteria such as literacy, income, and representation used to assess backwardness.