Moa Jamir
Dimapur | December 22
“Impressive but requires upgradation” was the verdict of The Morung Express’ appraisal of the Nagaland State Portal (https://nagaland.gov.in/), described as a “one-stop access for all information pertaining to the Government of Nagaland.” This assessment was based on the status as of October 15, 2023.
A year and a few days later, a review conducted between October 21, 2023 and December 22, 2024, indicated that while the portal remains impressive, it requires further streamlining to enable seamless delivery of digital services to citizens.
Improvements observed
The portal, maintained by the State’s Department of Information Technology & Communication, was found “last updated” on December 22, 2024, during the assessment conducted on Sunday.
Notably, several important sections, such as the list of government websites, online applications, e-services, and other documents, have collectively grown from 384 entries to 442—a rise of approximately 15.10%.
The most significant increase was observed in the ‘News & Updates’ (Files & Notifications) section, which grew from 136 entries on October 15, 2023, to 183 on December 22, 2024. However, given the vast scope of government activities, an increase of just 58 files over a year indicates that updates are neither comprehensive nor regular.
Areas needing urgent attention
The listing of ‘Government Websites’ remains an area requiring immediate focus. During the previous assessment, 82 websites were listed, which has since increased to 85.
However, issues persist. Out of 85 websites, 7 were found with incorrect links, though independent web searches revealed them to be functional.
Links to 3 websites—Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), eDistrict Nagaland, and the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission—were found non-functional both on the portal and through independent searches. The Nagaland State Extension Reforms (Niche ATMA) was listed, but its connection to ATMA remains unclear.
The Youth Resources and Sports website was non-functional in both assessments, and the Economics and Statistics website was listed twice.
Major websites related to education and recruitment, such as Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), Nagaland Board of School Education, Treasuries & Accounts, Art & Culture, GIS & Remote Sensing, and Nagaland State Transport, were notably absent from the portal—a critical omission and some highlighted during the previous assessment but not comprehensively addressed.
Content gaps
The availability of policy documents remains limited, with only 11 entries (up from 10), while the 'Document Repository' contains just 15 entries. This reflects a lack of comprehensive resources detailing the functioning of the government.
The 'Acts and Rules' section has been updated from 91 to 96 entries, but this remains unsatisfactory. The documents span from 1964 to 2023, but jumped from 2016 to 2023, and many recent acts may still be missing.
For instance, while the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023 has been added, key legislations like the Nagaland Lokayukta Act and NSSB Regulations are unavailable.
Moreover, many documents in this section are sourced from non-profit PRS Legislative Research rather than being original state resources. While PRS materials are freely shared under a Creative Commons license, their inclusion underscores the state’s inadequate documentation efforts.
Additionally, departments such as Law and Justice and Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection were neither listed on the portal nor found via independent Google searches.
Persistent challenges
Despite directives for government departments to proactively provide online services and disseminate information promptly, compliance remains poor.
While the State Portal has made impressive strides in e-governance, regular updates, dedicated efforts, and supervision are essential to realise its full potential.
For instance, during the current assessment, the portal displayed a pop-up advertisement stating: “Nagaland Awaits You – Hornbill Festival 2024, 1st–10th December 2024.” This outdated information exemplifies the need for better oversight.
The portal’s objective of “providing easy access anywhere and anytime to government services,” thus, appears to remain a work in progress, stuck midway on the information highway.
