Nagaland became the 16th State of the Indian Union on 1st December, 1963 by merging Naga Hills District of Assam and Tuensang Frontier Division of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). The emergence of  the  State  is significant as it paved the way for peace to prevail in a land that was inflicted by untold violence and misery due to an insurgency movement. Statehood has paved the way for tremendous social and economic development to meet the aspirations and hopes of the people.

For centuries, the Naga people lived in their mountain top villages, each completely independent. The Naga Hills District under Assam was established in 1866 with its headquarters at Samaguting, which was later shifted to Wokha in 1876 and finally to Kohima in 1878. The eastern part of the Naga inhabited areas was incorporated in the North East Frontier Agency designated first as Naga Tribal Area and later as Tuensang Frontier Division in 1948.

In 1957, the Naga Hills District and the Tuensang Frontier Division were joined together to form a new  administrative entity known as Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA). The arrangement, however, did not satisfy the aspirations of the Naga people. After several discussions finally in July, 1960, an agreement was arrived for formation of Nagaland as a full fledged State. The State of Nagaland was inaugurated  by  the  then  President   of   India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan at Kohima  on the 1st December, 1963. The first elections in the new State were held in January,  1964.

Since attainment of Statehood, Nagaland has made tremendous strides and progress in all walks of life during the last 50 years. The population has grown from 3,69,200 in 1961 to 19,78,502 in 2011;  literacy rate  from  17% in 1961  to 79.35% in 2011; Government educational institutions from 519 to 2945 between 1963-2013, - with at least one Government Primary School established  at every recognized village in the State. By 1989, 100%villages in the state were electrified.

As Nagaland celebrates the 50th anniversary of Statehood, Department of Posts is commemorating the occasion by release of a Commemorative Postage Stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India