Nagaland has a growing community of young geologists but there is mismatch between the state’s investment in higher education and opportunities available for this expertise.
Today, Nagaland has a growing community of young geologists preparing to contribute to the state’s development. At present alone, the Department of Geology, Nagaland University, has round 20 first-year M. Sc students, 23 final-year M. Sc Students and approximately 27 Research Scholars. In addition, Kohima Science College, has around 24 post-graduate students in Geology, with a new batch of postgraduates enrolling every academic year.
These figures represent only the students and research scholars currently pursuing their studies. They do not include the many graduates who have completed their postgraduate education over the years. Moreover, a significant number of students from Nagaland pursue geology in universities outside the state and return with the hope of serving their state. Collectively, this reflects a steadily expanding pool of trained geoscience professionals.
Unfortunately, this growing talent pool stands in stark contrast to the sinking employment opportunities available within the state government. As more qualified geologists emerge each year, recruitment has steadily declined, creating an increasing mismatch between the state’s investment in higher education and the opportunities available to utilise this expertise. This is a major matter of concern not only for students and researchers, but also for a state facing recurring landslides, seismic risks, water resource challenges and expanding infrastructure needs. It is in this context that the recent pattern of geology recruitment in Nagaland deserves careful reflection.
Nagaland is a state where geology is not merely an academic discipline but an essential component of public safety, infrastructure development and sustainable resource management. Situated in Seismic Zone V and frequently affected by landslides, slope instability, erosion and water scarcity, the state depends on geoscientific knowledge to support safe engineering practices and disaster risk reduction. Yet one critical question rarely enters public discussion; does Nagaland have enough geologists serving across government departments? Recent recruitment figures suggest the answer may be “No”. The NPSC Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) paints a worrying picture. In 2024, only five Assistant Geologist posts were advertised, of which two were reserved for B.T (Backward Tribes). In 2025, the number fell to just one post, and this year (2026), no Assistant Geologist post has been advertised so far. In effect, over a period of three years (2024, 2025, and 2026), there were only six vacancies. For candidates competing in the General Category, this effectively translated into only four opportunities during the same period. The situation is equally restrictive in related government services. The 2026 NPSC Common Educational Services Examination (CESE) advertised only one Assistant Professor (Geology) post, with a highly specialised preference for Ph. Din Micropalaeontology. The NSSB Combined Educational and Technical Services Examination (CETSE) 2025 advertised only one Laboratory Assistant (Geology) post, reserved for the B.T (Backward Tribes), followed by an absolute silence- zero post in NSSB Combined Educational and Technical Services Examination (CETSE) 2026.
Another matter that deserves attention is recruitment eligibility. In the NPSC CTSE 2025 advertisement for the post of Assistant Analyst under the Department of Science and Technology, M. Sc Geology was excluded from the eligibility criteria, while M. Sc in Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Physics and Bachelor Degree in Engineering or Technology were included. Since Geology is fundamentally a science discipline, this exclusion raises legitimate questions. If the intended qualification is a Master's degree in Science, together with Bachelor's degrees in Engineering and Technology, then M. Sc in Geology should reasonably receive equal consideration alongside other science subjects. A review of the eligibility criteria would therefore be both academically consistent and equitable.
The broader issue, however, extends beyond recruitment numbers. The current government practice appears to treat Geologists as professionals whose role is confined primarily to the Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM), Dimpaur. While Directorate performs an important function, Geology has applications far beyond mineral exploration.
Every major infrastructure project begins with the ground beneath it. Roads, bridges, water supply systems, public buildings and disaster mitigation projects, all depend upon an understanding of geology. These are not responsibilities confined to a single department. Assistant Geologist can make valuable contributions to secure public infrastructure and life across multiple state engineering wings:
• Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges) and National Highways
• Water Resources Department (PHED)
• Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)
• Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA)
• Department of Soil and Water Conservation
• Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Department of New and Renewable Energy
These departments routinely deal with geological hazards, groundwater investigation, slope stability, erosion control, site suitability assessments, foundation investigation, watershed management and disaster preparedness. Expanding geology posts across these sectors would not only improve technical decision-making but also strengthen public safety and infrastructure resilience. Restricting Assistant Geologist appointments largely to a single department creates an unnecessary bottleneck in public employment while limiting the state’s ability to utilise trained geoscientists where they are most needed. Recruitment also serves another important purpose beyond selecting successful candidates. Every recruitment cycle provides qualified aspirants with an opportunity to demonstrate their competence through a transparent selection process.
This is not simply an employment issue; it is a question of workforce planning. While qualified professionals are compelled to seek opportunities outside the state or leave the profession altogether, the Government of Nagaland may therefore consider undertaking a comprehensive review of its service rules and departmental staffing policies. Creating a wider opportunity for geologists is ultimately not about benefiting one profession alone; infrastructure and natural resources require it. The question is not whether Nagaland has geologists. The question is whether Nagaland is making the best use of them.
Mharhoni M Yanthan
Research Scholar, Nagaland University