From the moment you suspect you've won to the day net winnings hit your bank account. Submit within 30 days to the Directorate of State Lotteries, Kohima 797001.
You've matched a number on today's Lottery Sambad PDF. Before you do anything else, sign the back of the ticket. This single step decides whether the prize ever reaches you. The seven steps below are what the Directorate of State Lotteries, Nagaland requires from every claimant, in order, with the actual addresses, document names, and timelines that apply in 2026.
This is a general procedural guide written from the public-facing Directorate notices and the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998. It is not legal advice for your specific claim — for that, consult a qualified lawyer.
Each step is a single concrete action. Skipping or out-of-ordering any one of them risks delay or rejection.
Do this before you photograph the ticket, before you tell anyone, before you celebrate. The ticket is a bearer instrument — whoever holds the signed ticket is the legal claimant.
Clear, well-lit photos of the front and the signed back. Save to two different locations (e.g. phone + cloud).
Open the Directorate's PDF for that exact draw (date + slot). Confirm the prefix and number match exactly.
Full checklist below — signed ticket + attested PAN + attested Aadhaar + address proof + cancelled cheque. Get attestations done before posting.
Address: Directorate of State Lotteries, Kohima 797001, Nagaland. Keep the speed-post tracking receipt.
Counted from the draw date, not the discovery date. A ₹1 crore ticket from 1 May becomes void at midnight on 31 May.
Under ₹10 lakh: 2–4 weeks. Above ₹10 lakh: 4–6 weeks (KYC + FIU clearance). For prizes above ₹10 lakh, in-person collection at Kohima beats post.
The Directorate runs a three-stage verification on every claim:
If the original ticket is lost before you've signed it, the prize is gone — whoever finds the unsigned ticket can claim it. Police FIRs and indemnity bonds do not substitute for the original ticket.
Skip the post entirely. Fly to Dimapur (the nearest airport to Kohima, ~75 km drive), reach the Directorate office at Kohima within hours, and submit in person. A return air ticket costs a few thousand rupees against winnings of crores; the math is obvious.
Refuse. The Directorate accepts claims directly from the ticket holder only. Any intermediary offering to handle the claim is at best unnecessary and at worst a scam.
30 days from the draw date. No extensions, no exceptions. A ticket from 1 May becomes void at midnight on 31 May regardless of when you discover the win.
Signed original ticket + attested PAN + attested Aadhaar + address proof (utility bill / voter ID / driving licence) + cancelled cheque. For prizes above ₹10 lakh add two passport photos and a self-declaration form. Above ₹50 lakh an additional indemnity bond on stamp paper is required.
Directorate of State Lotteries, Kohima 797001, Nagaland. By registered post, speed post, or in person. For prizes above ₹10 lakh, in-person collection is strongly recommended — the few thousand rupees for a return air ticket to Dimapur (nearest airport) is trivial against crores in winnings.
Under ₹10 lakh: 2–4 weeks. Above ₹10 lakh: 4–6 weeks (KYC + Financial Intelligence Unit clearance under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act). TDS is deducted at source; Form 16A is dispatched within 15 days of disbursement.
Yes — any Indian citizen can claim. The ticket must have been bought legally (inside Nagaland or in a state with reciprocal sale agreement). Send the claim by registered post; your bank account can be anywhere in India and the Directorate disburses by NEFT/RTGS.
A lost ticket cannot be claimed. The physical ticket is a bearer instrument — whoever holds it (signed) is the legal claimant. Photos, photocopies, and police FIRs do not substitute for the original. This is why signing the back immediately matters: an unsigned lost ticket can be found and claimed by anyone.
Refuse. The Directorate accepts claims directly from the ticket holder only — there are no authorised intermediaries. Anyone offering to handle the claim for a fee is at best unnecessary and at worst a scam. Legitimate professional help (chartered accountant for the tax filing afterwards) is paid for advisory time, not for "processing" the claim itself.