The term Naga primarily refers to the Naga political issue, a six-decade-old political struggle for self-determination by the Naga people. The most significant recent development is the Framework Agreement, a landmark peace accord signed on August 3, 2015, between the Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim–Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).
The issue originated from the Naga people's historical assertion of sovereignty, leading to the formation of the Naga National Council (NNC) and, later, the NSCN in 1980, following the rejection of the Shillong Accord of November 1975. The Framework Agreement was created to lay the foundation for a new political relationship and lasting peace, superseding all previous accords.
The mechanism of the accord involves the GoI's recognition of the unique history and distinct political identity of the Nagas. It proposes a shared sovereignty model and aims for an inclusive settlement within the Indian federation with a "special status". The core demand of the NSCN-IM is for Nagalim or 'Greater Nagaland,' which seeks to integrate Naga-dominated areas in neighboring states like Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The concept connects to the constitutional provision of Article 371A, which grants special status to Nagaland, and the involvement of other groups like the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs). The agreement's implementation has been slow, with the GoI's interlocutor, RN Ravi, attempting to reinterpret its core principles. The agreement itself replaced the Shillong Accord of 1975.