Technical Education Department, Nagaland, is still a relatively young department. Initially, Technical Education was under the Department of School Education, Nagaland. Out of this, the Department of Higher & Technical Education came into existence in 1983; and then in the year 2009 the Technical Education of Nagaland became a full-fledged Directorate.

Technical Education in the State began in 1972 when the first Polytechnic ie. Nagaland Polytechnic was established at Atoizu in Zunheboto now renamed as Khelhoshe Polytechnic. subsequently, Women's Polytechnic (now Government Polytechnic) and Institute for Communication and Information Technology (ICIT) were also established in 1994 and 2003 respectively. 8 (Eight) more new Polytechnics were sanctioned for 8 different Districts at Dimapur, Phek,Tuensang, Wokha, Mon, Peren, Kiphire and Longleng of which Polytechnics at Dimapur, Phek, Tuensang , Peren, Wokha and Mon is now made fuctional. Thus the State now has Nine Technical Institutes offering three-year engineering Diploma programs in Civil, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical, Automobile, Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, Information technology, Modern office Practice, Interior Designing, Architecture Engg and an Advanced Diploma Program in Apparel Production and Under the GOI Skill development programs.