Avdisha, 8th Standard, Wisdom World School, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India - 136118

Area: 16,579 sq. km

Population: 19.79 lakh (census 2011, provisional)

Capital: Kohima

Jurisdiction of High Court: Falls under Guwahati High Court. There is a Bench at Kohima.

Principle language: English, Hindi, Nagamese and 16 tribal dialects

State flower: Rose Tree

State tree: Himalayan alder

State animal: Mithun

State bird: Blyth's tragopan

Official website: http://www.nagaland.gov.in

Nagaland became the 16th state of the Indian Union in 1963. It is bordered by Myanmar on the east, Arunachal on the north, Assam on the west and Manipur on the south. It lies between the parallels of 98 degree and 96 degree east longitude and 26.6 degree and 27.4 degree latitude north of the equator.

The Naga people belong to the Indo-Mongoloid group of people living in a contiguous areas of the north-eastern hills of India and the upper portion of western Myanmar. The major recognised tribes of Nagaland are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Kuki, Konyak, Kachari, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchungrii and Zeliang. The Naga languages differ from tribe to tribe and sometimes even from one village to another. They are, however, under the Tibeto-Burman family.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, gradual contacts with the Ahoms of present day Assam was established but this did not have any significant impact on the traditional Naga way of life. However, in the 19th century the British appeared on the scene and ultimately the area was brought under British administration. After Independence this territory was made a centrally administered area in 1957, administered by the Governor of Assam. It was known as the Naga Hills Tuensang Area. This failed to quell popular aspirations and political unrest began. Hence, in 1961, the area was renamed as Nagaland and given the status of state of the Indian Union, which was formally inaugurated in December 1963.

Agriculture

Nagaland is basically a land of agriculture with about 70 per cent of the population depending on agriculture. The contribution of agricultural sector in the state is very significant. Rice is the staple food. It occupies about 70 per cent of the total area under cultivation and constitutes about 75 per cent of the total food production in the state. The major land use pattern is slash and burn cultivation locally known as jhum. Total cultivable area is 7,21,924 hectares.

Forest

Out of the total land area of 16,579 sq.km, forest area occupies approximately 8,62,9.30 sq.km. There are Rangapahar wildlife sanctuaries in Dimapur district, Fakim wildlife sanctuaries in Tuensang district and Singphan wildlife sanctuaries in Mon district, Intanki National Park in Peren district and Zoological Park in Dimapur district.

Power

The state has an installed generation capacity of 27.84 MW only from Small Hydro Electric Power Projects against the requirement of 95 MW. The main source of power is from the Central Sector Power allocation. The total number of consumer is 1,80,000 (approximately) 90 per cent of which is domestic.

Irrigation

The state has so far been constructing minor irrigations to divert small hill streams to the valleys and terraced field for rice cultivation covering an area of 82,150 hectares. The state is implementing Themezie M.I Project at Chiechama village under Kohima district.

Transport

The state is connected to the rest of the country with airport and railway stations at Dimapur and National Highway-39 which passes through the state from Dimapur via Kohima to Manipur. This NH-39 is soon to be an international route under the Look East Policy of the GOI. The rest of the state is connected only with roads covering about 24,709 kms, this includes the NH-61 and state highways. The state is also inter-connected with postal services in all district headquarters, telephone line and mobile services.

Tourism

With the opening of the state to the International tourist by relaxation of Restricted Area Permit (RAP), a good number of foreign tourists as well as domestic tourists visit Nagaland every year.

The Hornbill festival conceived by the Tourist Department and held in the first week of December is an annual event where all tribes of the state come together to celebrate, exhibit and sell their traditional wares, foodstuffs and crafts. Three traditional festivals, namely Sekrenyi at Touphema in Kohima district (Feb), Monyu at Pongo in Longleng Sub-division (April) and Moatsu at Chuchuyimlang in Mokokchung district (May) have been identified as festival destinations.

Music and dances are an intrinsic part of Naga life. Folk songs and ballads eulogizing bravery, beauty, love, generosity, etc., are transmitted from generation to generation. Likewise dancing is an important part of every festive occasion. Feasting, singing, dancing and merrymaking invariably accompany festivals. Name of the tribes and their festivals are Angami-Sekrenyi, Ao-Moatsu, Chakhesang-Sukhrunye and Tsukhenye, Chang-Naknyulem, Khiamniungan-Tsokum, Kuki-Mimkut, Konyak-Aoleang Monyu, Kachari-Bushu, Lotha-Tokhu Emong, Phom-Monyu, Pochury-Yemshe, Rengma-Ngada, Sumi-Tuluni, SangtamAmongmong, Yimchungru-Metemneo, and Zeliang-Meileingi/Hega Langsimngi/Chegagadi.

Industries

The process of industrialisation in the state is in its infancy, but the need to have more industries has been well recognised. Under the ‘Year of Entrepreneur 2010’ Entrepreneur Awareness Programme was held in all the (11) eleven districts of Nagaland. The state has set up 17 Citronella Demonstration Farms (i.e. called as ‘Economic Plant’) all over the state. The Nagaland Handloom and Handicrafts Development Cooperation Ltd., Dimapur is the state owned corporation, which is responsible for the promotion and marketing of handloom and handicraft products. An Industrial Growth Centre has been established at Ganeshnagar, Dimapur to facilitate entrepreneurs and educated unemployed youth to promote industries.

The Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation is the premier promotional organisation in providing guidance and capital assistance to entrepreneurs.