Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Nagaland is betting big on its youth. The two-day Tech X Gaming Expo 2026 launched on August 28 at the NBCC convention hall in Kohima. Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio used the stage to signal a shift in the state's economic focus. He aims to turn Nagaland into a premier hub for gaming and digital technology in the Northeast.
During the event, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Google. The deal is worth over 100 million rupees. It aims to overhaul school education and push digital literacy. "Technology provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to overcome geographical distances, connect talent with opportunity and enable our youth to participate in the national and global economy without necessarily having to leave Nagaland," Rio told the crowd.
The government is backing this vision with bricks and mortar. They are utilizing an 18,000 sq. ft. STPI centre in Kohima. A new Innovation Hub for startups is coming to Chümoukedima with support from the Ministry of DoNER. Plans for an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence are also in the works. This facility will target agriculture, healthcare, governance, and tourism.
The state is also leaning into unmanned aviation. The Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre is already using drones for disaster risk assessment and infrastructure monitoring. The state's own Drone School is training certified pilots and expects formal Directorate General of Civil Aviation certification shortly.
E-sports remains a primary driver for the state's growth. Officials pointed to the Hornbill E-Sports Championship and Khelo India Youth Games as successful blueprints. The current expo features the Kohima Time Trials of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026. Organizers, led by the Nagaland Esports Society and the state government, want to build careers for designers, data analysts, and developers, not just gamers.
The event featured an invocation by Associate Pastor Kyaden Khaming of Faith Harvest Church. Moalong Longkumer of the Nagaland E-Sports Society delivered the welcome address. Asangla Imti, Commissioner and Secretary for School Education and SCERT, chaired the session.
The Chief Minister’s message to the youth was blunt. He urged them to look past geographical barriers. "The Government can build the infrastructure and create the opportunities. The responsibility to seize them rests with you," he added.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 10:00am
Beyond the tech push, the government is readying the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill. Rio confirmed the legislation will head to the Assembly on September 1. The state had to clear legal hurdles regarding the delegation of legislative powers before moving forward. The move follows a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation, and officials expect the bill to pass by September 3.
On the long-standing Naga political issue, Rio signaled a push for high-level talks. He cited a September 2024 resolution signed by over 300 stakeholders, including tribal bodies and civil society groups. The government is pressing for negotiations to be handled by a Union minister with the direct mandate to represent the central government. Rio noted that the Union Home Minister has already agreed to assign a Minister of State for Home Affairs to the process.
The tech exhibition also pulled in private industry, with the Mumbai Falcons Racing team helping lead seminars on vehicle dynamics, strategy, and race engineering for students in Kohima and Dimapur.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 2:00pm
Rio linked the state's tech pivot to the national Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, calling on Nagaland to move from a spectator to a leader in the digital shift. He warned that skilling the workforce for this future requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach rather than relying on any single department.
Regarding the FNTA bill, the Chief Minister confirmed the state cabinet held detailed discussions with ENPO representatives and legislators before finalizing the proposal for the Ministry of Home Affairs. Aside from the FNTA, the upcoming assembly session will address the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Rio confirmed that the government has no immediate plans to introduce business regarding the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act.
The tech expo also reached beyond the hall walls. Rio lauded the Mumbai Falcons Racing team for hosting seminars in Kohima and Dimapur to drill students on vehicle dynamics, strategy, and race engineering. The event also highlighted a 48-hour game jam, cosplay competitions, and digital art challenges to broaden the appeal of the digital career path.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 5:49pm
Beyond the legislative agenda, the Chief Minister confirmed the government sought counsel from the Attorney General to resolve legal conflicts regarding the delegation of power. This legal vetting process paved the way for the draft sent to the Union Home Ministry after full cabinet discussions with ENPO leaders and regional legislators.
The tech expo also expanded its footprint through collaborative efforts between the Department of Information and Public Relations, School Education, Youth Resources and Sports, and the GIS division. Beyond the race engineering seminars, the venue hosted a 48-hour game jam, cosplay contests, and digital art challenges to push creative career tracks.
Rio also reclassified the role of the Department of Information and Public Relations, tasking the agency to shift from routine reporting to aggressive storytelling. He wants officials to use digital platforms to project the state's cultural identity and youth talent to a global audience.
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