The Nagaland government has opted to petition to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to have the Protected Area Permit (PAP) system revoked in the state. State Environment Minister C. L. John said on Monday at the Chief Minister’s residence that this decision was taken during a cabinet meeting.
The PAP system mandates foreign nationals have specific licenses to enter some areas of India, particularly areas of the northeastern states. The plea of the government follows the observation of the success of the 2024 Hornbill Festival, which drew around 2,000 foreign guests. Attending the event in the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama were 205,968 persons overall, 2,527 foreign nationals among them.
Originally brought in the 1960s for security concerns, the PAP was withdrawn in December 2021 to let Nagaland and other northeastern states easier access. But for Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram the Ministry of Home Affairs restored the PAP system in December 2024. Now demanding the lifting of these limitations is the Nagaland administration in order to promote travel and foreign involvement in the state.
