India, Feb. 5 -- The Government of India on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) in New Delhi to form the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) within the state.

The FNTA, subject to review after 10 years, will grant legislative, executive, and financial autonomy to Nagaland's six eastern districts.

ENPO represents the people of the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung, and Eastern Sumi tribes from the six districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator, who have been demanding a separate state since 2010 due to developmental deficits in the region. In Nagaland's 60-member assembly, 20 membe...