Nagaland’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012: A Qualitative Appraisal of Resource Governance and Indigenous Rights

T Penthungo Lotha; Santhoshraja V; Chandra Sekaran G

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72020

Nagaland’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012: A Qualitative Appraisal of Resource Governance and Indigenous Rights

Author(s)	Mr. T Penthungo Lotha, Mr. Santhoshraja V, Dr. Chandra Sekaran G
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract The state of Nagaland experienced oil extraction activities when the Oil and Natural Gas Commission initiated exploration in 1981. However, these operations were halted in 1991 due to the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and resistance from local communities, who perceived the process as undermining their traditional rights over land and resources. After nearly two decades, the Government of Nagaland, with the consent of its people, introduced a regulatory framework to facilitate the resumption of petroleum exploration. The Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012 (NPNGR, 2012), establish a distinctive legal structure shaped by the state’s socio-cultural and constitutional context, particularly under Article 371A of the Indian Constitution, which grants autonomy over land and its resources. The regulations recognize the ownership rights of landowners, village institutions, and customary bodies, thereby promoting community participation in resource governance. They also provide for institutional mechanisms, including a regulatory authority and a nodal agency, to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective sectoral oversight. Furthermore, the framework directs revenue generation toward infrastructure development and social welfare, aligning economic benefits with local needs. Provisions for capacity-building initiatives, such as the proposed Naga Petroleum Academy, aim to enhance local employment and reduce dependency on external expertise. Despite these progressive provisions, challenges related to institutional capacity, regulatory enforcement, environmental sustainability, and equitable benefit-sharing persist. Overall, the regulations represent an effort to integrate customary practices with modern governance, offering a potential model for resource management in indigenous and autonomous regions. This study adopts a qualitative methodology, employing descriptive and analytical approaches to examine the legal, institutional, and socio-political dimensions of the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012.
Keywords	Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations (2012); Article 371A, Indigenous Rights, Resource Governance, Customary Law, Sustainable Development, Community Participation, Petroleum Policy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-20
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72020

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Nagaland’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 2012: A Qualitative Appraisal of Resource Governance and Indigenous Rights

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