Explained: Why Nagaland wants the Protected Area Permit regime scrapped before Hornbill
In one line: Nagaland is pressing the Centre to permanently withdraw the Protected Area Permit for foreigners, reimposed in December 2024, before the Hornbill Festival opens on 1 December 2026.
Published 4 November 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
With the Hornbill Festival due to open on 1 December 2026, the Nagaland government is pressing the Centre to fully withdraw the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime. The PAP is a permit that foreign nationals need, in addition to a visa, to enter notified areas between the Inner Line and the international border. It is issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, made under the Foreigners Act, 1946. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland fall wholly under this regime. In 2011 the Centre lifted the PAP requirement for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to boost tourism. In December 2024 the Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed it in all three States, citing security concerns over the influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries.
Nagaland discussed the issue in its Assembly in September 2026. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio then met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to seek its permanent abolition, and Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along said in late October that Shah had promised to examine it. Along said "security and national interests remained paramount" but argued the State can manage foreign visitors, that tourism is "no longer confined to the annual Hornbill Festival", and that lifting the PAP would bring investment and jobs for educated unemployed youth. He said the PAP and border security are separate matters. State leaders say foreign tourists plan months ahead and are put off by slow paperwork, rules against solo travel and uncertain festival exemptions.
The PAP should not be confused with the Inner Line Permit (ILP). The ILP, rooted in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, applies to Indian citizens from other States and is issued by the State government to protect tribal land and culture. It is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, and is not part of the current demand. The Hornbill Festival, first held in 2000, runs from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima; 2026 is its 27th edition. Because entry of foreigners is a Union matter, the decision rests with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Prelims facts
- The Protected Area Permit for foreigners is issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, made under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
- The PAP was lifted for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in 2011 and reimposed by the MHA in December 2024 over security concerns.
- Nagaland seeks permanent withdrawal before the 27th Hornbill Festival, which runs from 1 to 10 December at Kisama near Kohima.
- The Inner Line Permit, rooted in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, applies to Indian citizens, not foreigners.
- The ILP is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur (added in December 2019).
Quick recall
- Under which order is the Protected Area Permit issued?
- The Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, made under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
- Which four States fall wholly under the protected area regime?
- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
- When was the PAP lifted and reimposed in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram?
- Lifted in 2011; reimposed by the MHA in December 2024.
- Which regulation is the source of the Inner Line?
- The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
- Which States have the Inner Line Permit system?
- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur (added in December 2019).
- Dates and venue of the Hornbill Festival?
- 1 to 10 December, Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima; first held in 2000.
- Which permit do foreigners need for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
- A Restricted Area Permit.
- Who is Nagaland's Tourism Minister quoted on the PAP demand?
- Temjen Imna Along.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP), consider the following statements:
1. The PAP is required by foreign nationals, while the ILP is required by Indian citizens from other States.
2. The ILP has its origin in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
3. The PAP is issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the PAP is issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958; the 1873 Regulation is the source of the Inner Line.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Border management, internal security and development in the North East
- How to use this
Use the PAP as an example of a regulatory tool for border management, and of the trade-off it creates with development.
- In December 2024 the MHA reimposed the Protected Area Permit in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland over concerns about the influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries.
- The PAP, under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, controls foreigners' entry between the Inner Line and the international border.
- Nagaland argues such curbs hurt tourism and jobs, so calibrated, area-specific permits may serve security better than blanket rules.
On internal security and peace processes in the North East; the permit debate is part of the region's security context but not of the peace accords.
On reasons for insurgency in the North East; the story touches the region's security setting but does not analyse insurgency.
Mains practice question
Nagaland has sought the withdrawal of the Protected Area Permit regime reimposed in 2024. How should the Centre balance border security with tourism-led development in the North East? (150 words)
Model answer
The Protected Area Permit (PAP), issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, was lifted for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in 2011 and reimposed in December 2024. Nagaland now wants it withdrawn.
Case for withdrawal
- Tourism: paperwork and uncertainty deter foreign visitors, especially for the Hornbill Festival (1 to 10 December).
- Jobs and investment: the State says tourism can employ educated unemployed youth.
- Separate issues: the State argues the PAP and border security are separate matters.
Case for caution
- Security: the 2024 reimposition cited the influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries.
- Regional context: ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023 and security concerns along the Myanmar border.
Balance
- Lift the PAP for Nagaland alone, or for festival periods, with online, time-bound clearance.
- Keep checks for specific nationalities and sensitive border belts.
- Leave the Inner Line Permit, which protects tribal communities, untouched.
Calibrated, area-specific rules can secure the border without closing the North East to the world.
The basics
Why this matters
Foreign tourists who want to visit Nagaland need a special permit on top of their visa. The Centre relaxed this rule for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in 2011, then brought it back in December 2024 over security concerns. Ahead of the 27th Hornbill Festival in December 2026, Nagaland wants it lifted for good. This is a clean test of the balance between border security, tourism and the North East's development.
The legal frame
The Protected Area Permit (PAP) is issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, made under the Foreigners Act, 1946. An Indian citizen from another State does not need a PAP; he or she needs an Inner Line Permit, a different permit.
- For foreign nationals
- Issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958
- Covers areas between the Inner Line and the international border
- Reimposed in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in December 2024
- For Indian citizens from other States
- Rooted in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873
- Issued by the State government
- In force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur
Where it applies
The whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland fall under the protected area regime, with parts of Sikkim under protected and restricted area rules. Parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are also protected areas. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands need a Restricted Area Permit instead.
- 1958Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order issued
- 2011Centre lifts the PAP requirement in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to boost tourism
- December 2024MHA reimposes the regime in the three States over security concerns
- September 2026Nagaland Assembly discusses the issue
- October 2026CM Neiphiu Rio asks Amit Shah to abolish it; Shah promises to examine
- 1 December 2026Hornbill Festival due to open at Kisama
The two sides
Nagaland argues that after years of open access, the permit deters foreign tourists, who plan months ahead, and investors, while the State is peaceful. Its Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along says "security and national interests remained paramount" but the State can manage visitors. The Centre's reason for reimposition in 2024 was the security situation, linked to the influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries.
Go deeper
Why it matters for UPSC
The issue sits at the meeting point of internal security in border areas (GS3), Centre-State relations and the North East's development (GS2), and tourism as an economic driver (GS3). Prelims can ask which permit applies to whom, and under which law.
The core idea
The PAP comes from the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 and applies only to foreigners. It is different from the Inner Line Permit, which Indians from other States need, and from the Restricted Area Permit, used for places such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 2011 the Centre lifted the PAP for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. In December 2024 the Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed it over security concerns. Nagaland says this hurts tourism, especially around the Hornbill Festival.
Numbers and dates to remember
- 1958: Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
- 1873: Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, the source of the Inner Line.
- 2011: PAP lifted in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
- December 2024: PAP reimposed in the three States.
- 1 to 10 December: Hornbill Festival at Kisama; 2026 is the 27th edition.
Where to go next
- Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958: the law behind the permit.
- Inner Line Permit: the permit for Indian citizens, often confused with the PAP.
- Hornbill Festival: why timing matters for Nagaland.
- Restricted Area Permit: the stricter cousin of the PAP.
Go deeper: security versus openness in the North East
Nagaland's case. Leaders say the permit raises costs for foreign visitors who must plan months ahead, and that rules on solo travel and uncertain festival exemptions deter them. Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along says tourism is "no longer confined to the annual Hornbill Festival", and that lifting the PAP would draw investment and let educated unemployed youth start tourism enterprises. He also says the PAP and border security are separate matters. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has taken the demand to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured him he would examine it.
The Centre's case. The Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 exists to control the movement of foreigners in sensitive border areas. The 2024 reimposition was linked to security concerns over the influx of foreigners from neighbouring countries, in a period of ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023 and security concerns along the Myanmar border.
Middle paths. Options include restoring the 2011 relaxation for Nagaland alone, exempting tourists during the Hornbill Festival, or easing procedures while keeping checks for nationals of specific countries. Any choice should keep the PAP distinct from the Inner Line Permit, which protects tribal land and culture against outsiders from within India and is not in question. The Restricted Area Permit regime in places such as Andaman and Nicobar shows how far control can go in very sensitive areas.
The federal angle. Entry rules for foreigners are a Union matter, so the State can only persuade. The episode shows how security decisions taken in Delhi shape the economy of a small border State.
Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958
The 1958 order that requires foreigners to get a PAP.
In one line: The Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, made under the Foreigners Act, 1946, requires foreigners to hold a permit to enter notified protected areas.
What it does
The order deals with the area between the "Inner Line" and the international border. A foreign national needs a Protected Area Permit, in addition to a visa, to enter. The permit is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs or authorised offices.
Where it applies
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland fall wholly under the regime, Sikkim partly, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Why it is in the news
The requirement was lifted in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in 2011 and reimposed in December 2024. Nagaland now wants it scrapped.
Where to go next
Inner Line Permit
The permit for Indian citizens, not to be confused with the PAP.
In one line: The Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a travel document that Indian citizens from other States need to enter certain north-eastern States.
Origin
The British created the Inner Line under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. It was retained after Independence to protect tribal culture and land from outsiders.
Where it applies today
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Manipur was added in December 2019. The State government issues the permit.
How it differs from the PAP
The ILP regulates Indians; the PAP regulates foreigners. Nagaland's 2026 demand concerns only the PAP. The ILP, which protects local communities, is not part of the debate.
Where to go next
Hornbill Festival
Why the permit debate peaks every December.
In one line: The Hornbill Festival is Nagaland's annual showcase of Naga culture, held from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima.
What it is
First held in December 2000, the festival is organised by the State's Tourism and Art and Culture departments. It opens on 1 December, Nagaland's Statehood Day, and brings together the State's tribes at the Naga Heritage Village. The 2026 edition is the 27th, and the State hopes to invite President Droupadi Murmu to the opening.
Why it matters for the PAP debate
It is the State's biggest draw for foreign tourists. Nagaland argues that permit paperwork and uncertainty over festival exemptions put off visitors who plan months in advance.
Where to go next
Restricted Area Permit
The stricter permit used in the most sensitive areas.
In one line: A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is the permit foreigners need for notified restricted areas, such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim.
How it differs from the PAP
Both permits come from the same family of rules on foreigners' movement. Protected areas lie between the Inner Line and the international border and need a PAP. Restricted areas need prior permission through a RAP. Sikkim has both protected and restricted parts.
Why it is useful here
The RAP shows the range of controls the Centre can use. If the PAP is lifted in Nagaland, the State would move back to the lighter regime it had from 2011 to 2024, not to a stricter one.
Where to go next
Take the 4 November 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers