Nagaland government approves PRC and ST certificates for 1,313 Rongmei settlers and descendants across five districts
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DIMAPUR — Nagaland government has approved the issuance of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRC) and Scheduled Tribe certificates to 1,313 members of the Rongmei tribe permanently settled in the state and their direct descendants, according to two Home department notifications issued on May 8.
The official notifications stated that the beneficiaries were earlier enumerated and compiled by a committee constituted by the state government in 2007. The identified Rongmei families are settled across Kohima, Peren and the erstwhile Dimapur district, including present-day Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.
As per the notifications, eligible members of the Rongmei community and their direct descendants can now apply to the respective deputy commissioners or additional deputy commissioners (headquarters) of the districts where their names were originally recorded by the committee. Certificates will be issued after due verification.
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The PRC notification clarified that the certificates would recognise the holders as members of the Rongmei tribe, listed as a Scheduled Tribe of Manipur and permanently settled in Nagaland.
However, it stated that the recognition would remain limited to permanent residency status in Nagaland and would not alter or expand tribal status beyond what is already recognised under existing Scheduled Tribe notifications.
In a separate notification, the government also authorised issuance of Scheduled Tribe certificates to the same 1,313 Rongmei members and their descendants. The ST certificates will specify that the holders belong to the Scheduled Tribe category of Manipur and are permanently settled in Nagaland.
The notification further clarified that the ST certificates are intended solely for availing reservation benefits in central government employment and admission to central educational institutions.
It explicitly stated that the certificates would not entitle the Rongmei beneficiaries to reservation quotas, concessions or benefits reserved for Scheduled Tribes indigenous to Nagaland.
The government also laid down safeguards against misuse of the certification process. Any person found obtaining or attempting to obtain certificates through fraud or misrepresentation would face cancellation of the certificate and prosecution under applicable laws.
Deputy commissioners have been empowered to cancel certificates after inquiry, while appeals against such decisions would lie with the commissioner of Nagaland.
Both notifications were issued following a Cabinet decision taken on February 26, 2026 and communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat on March 12, 2026. The orders came into effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.