Naga peace talks elevated to ministerial level, says CM Rio; students skip I-Day

Nagaland's chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, announced on Saturday that the long-standing Naga peace process has been elevated to ministerial level, with a committee headed by a Union minister of state to lead the talks. This decision was made after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in February, in response to the Naga people's desire for an early solution to the issue.

Rio expressed gratitude to the Government of India for responding to the people's and civil societies' requests to elevate the peace process to ministerial level.

However, the celebration of Independence Day in Nagaland was marred by the absence of student parade contingents, following a directive from the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF). The federation raised concerns over the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram, the National Song, at official events. The students argue that while they respect India's national symbols, they have objections to the compulsory participation in Vande Mataram, particularly due to its devotional and religious imagery which conflicts with the beliefs of non-Hindu students.

The NSF opposes the January 2026 MHA directive mandating the singing or playing of the National Song before the National Anthem during official functions and at educational institutions.