The call for a review and reallocation of job quotas in Nagaland has intensified, spearheaded by major tribal organizations who argue that the current reservation policy is outdated and fails to reflect the present socio-economic realities. The core of the issue lies within the state government's job reservation policy for Scheduled Tribes (STs), where 80% of government jobs are reserved for indigenous STs. Within this, 37% is allocated to 11 "Backward Tribes" (BTs). Specifically, 25% is earmarked for seven tribes from eastern Nagaland, and the remaining 12% for four tribes from other regions.

This reservation policy, initially introduced in 1977 for a period of 10 years, was later extended indefinitely in 1989 without any formal review since 1987, despite provisions for periodic reassessment. The Committee on Review Reservation Policy (CoRRP), representing five major Naga tribes – Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi – has been at the forefront of demanding change. They argue that the existing quota system no longer accurately represents the socio-economic and educational landscape and has created imbalances, disproportionately benefiting a few tribes while limiting opportunities for others.

On July 9, 2025, thousands of tribal people from the aforementioned five Naga tribes staged a protest outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, demanding a review of the state's job reservation policy. The protestors, under the banner of the 5-Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), are demanding either the abolishment of the current job reservation policy, which has been in effect since 1977, or the reallocation of unfilled reserved positions specifically to these five major tribes.

The CoRRP has termed the 1977 reservation policy as "outdated and oppressive" and insists on its repeal or the redistribution of unutilized quotas to the five tribes they represent. They argue that the policy should reflect current realities and not rely on assumptions from decades ago. A key demand is the introduction of a "creamy layer" criterion to prevent economically privileged individuals within the BTs from monopolizing the benefits. The absence of tribe-wise employment data is also cited as a hindrance to evidence-based reform.

The Nagaland government, while acknowledging the need for review, has appealed for patience. A senior government official stated that the matter is under review, but Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has indicated that significant administrative reforms, including those related to reservations, should be undertaken only after the national Census exercise scheduled for 2027. Rio has also stated that the commission's task is "very detailed" and cannot deliver immediate results.

This stance has been met with dissatisfaction from the CoRRP, who have relaunched their agitation. Meanwhile, students from the backward tribes have voiced strong opposition to any potential revision, fearing that it would disproportionately harm the state's marginalized communities. The Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) has also joined the call for a review, advocating for a population-based reservation system to ensure fair representation for all tribes. They argue that the current uniform reservation quotas do not adequately reflect the demographic realities of the Konyak tribe, one of the largest in Nagaland.