Guwahati: The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) has announced a three-day Pen Down Strike starting from October 14, 2025, across all government offices in Nagaland. The protest is triggered by the contentious induction of a candidate outside the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Protest Against Inclusion of Non-NPSC Candidate in IAS Induction
CANSSEA’s strike protests the inclusion of a non-NPSC candidate in the select list of Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) officers inducted into the IAS. The list was finalized on September 25, 2025.
The association accuses the state government of undermining meritocracy by allowing “backdoor officers” entry into one of the country’s most prestigious civil services. CANSSEA expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s silence and indifferent attitude despite multiple appeals demanding adherence to merit-based selection.
Strike Demands: Removal of Non-NPSC Candidate and Vacancy Circular Reinstatement
The strike is centered on two key demands:
- Immediate removal of the non-NPSC candidate from the Non-SCS officers’ IAS induction list.
- Reinstatement of the Vacancy Circular dated March 10, 2025, to ensure transparent, merit-based future selections for Non-SCS IAS induction.
The strike follows recommendations from CANSSEA’s Core Committee and Action Committee, which decided that peaceful protest was the next step after previous appeals went unanswered.
Peaceful Protest and Continuation of Essential Services
CANSSEA has assured that the strike will remain peaceful and that essential and emergency services will continue without disruption.
Departments have been instructed to finalize the operational procedures for the strike, and members are requested to maintain workplace attendance while observing official protocols during the pen down protest.
Alongside the strike, the association plans to continue protest activities including black ribbon campaigns and poster displays.
Background: Rising Tensions Over IAS Induction Process
The controversy highlights tensions in Nagaland’s civil services over the perceived lack of meritocracy and transparency in IAS inductions for Non-State Civil Service officers. CANSSEA’s move underscores growing demand for adherence to merit-based bureaucratic appointments.
