The President, who was handed over the recommendation on Wednesday, signed the proclamation on Thursday evening, Home Ministry sources said.

Patil, who is at present in Hyderabad, had received the decision of the cabinet taken at its unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January one.

The cabinet meeting was convened at a short notice to discuss the political situation in Nagaland against the backdrop of the BJP-backed Democratic Alliance winning a controversial no-confidence motion last month.

Rio survived the trial of strength on the floor of the assembly on December 13 when it was defeated 23-19 in the 60-member House after Speaker barred three independents from taking part in voting and held that the votes of nine dissident ruling NPF members were invalid.