Nagaland

Nagaland runs on two legal systems at once. The Constitution protects Naga customary law even where it overrides ordinary Indian statutes.

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State Profile

Nagaland

Constitutionally protected Naga customary law, and the Festival of Festivals

Capital

Kohima

Formed

1 Dec 1963

Chief Minister

Neiphiu Rio

Since 8 Mar 2018

Geography

• Area: about 16,579 sq km
• Borders Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur
• International border with Myanmar

Culture

• Hornbill Festival: the “Festival of Festivals”
• Home to many Naga tribes, each with distinct customs
• Article 371A protects Naga customary law

Two Legal Systems, One State

Under Article 371A, no Act of Parliament on Naga religious practice, customary law, or land ownership applies to Nagaland unless its own Assembly agrees to it first.

General Knowledge Download

Must Know

• Nagaland’s capital is Kohima.
• The state was formed on 1 December 1963, becoming India’s 16th state.
• As of 2026, the Chief Minister is Neiphiu Rio, in office since 8 March 2018. He originally led the NDPP, which merged into the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in 2026.
• The Governor is Nand Kishore Yadav, in office since 13 March 2026.

Good to Know

• Nagaland lies in India’s far northeast, covering about 16,579 square kilometres.
• It borders Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh to the north, and Manipur to the south, with an international border with Myanmar to the east.
• The state is home to several major Naga tribes, including the Angami, Ao, Konyak, and Sumi, each with its own dialect and customs.
• Under Article 371A of the Constitution, Naga customary law and land ownership are specially protected. No Act of Parliament on these matters applies unless Nagaland’s own Assembly agrees.

Test Yourself

Please wait…

1. What is the capital of Nagaland?

Kohima

Dimapur

Imphal

Shillong

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Great to Know

• The Hornbill Festival, held every December, is called the “Festival of Festivals.” It brings all major Naga tribes together under one cultural celebration.
• Each tribe performs its own traditional dances, folk songs, and games during the festival, showcasing Nagaland’s internal diversity rather than a single unified culture.
• Traditional Naga farming relies heavily on jhum, or shifting cultivation, on the state’s terraced hill slopes.
• Article 371A exists because Nagaland’s 1963 statehood followed years of separate negotiation with Naga political groups, not a simple state reorganisation like most other states.