Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on Thursday urged the Government of India to urgently review and withdraw, or appropriately relax, the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Nagaland, asserting that the State’s peaceful security environment and growing connectivity no longer warrant such restrictions.
Concluding the discussion on PAP during the Ninth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Rio said the State Government fully recognised the Centre’s responsibility for national security, border management and regulation of foreign nationals. However, he maintained that security and development need not be opposing objectives and that regulations must evolve with changing realities.
Citing comparative security data, the Chief Minister said Nagaland had witnessed one of its most peaceful periods in the last five years. He said incidents related to underground activities declined from more than 257 during 2004-09 to just eight between 2021 and 2026, with a corresponding sharp reduction in casualties.
Rio also cited National Crime Records data, stating that Nagaland’s cognizable crime rate in 2024 was 61.6 per lakh population, the second lowest among States and Union Territories after Dadra and Nagar Haveli, against the national rate of 418.8. He said crime against women in Nagaland was also the lowest in the country at 5.1 per lakh, compared with the national rate of 64.6.
He further pointed out that the India-Myanmar border areas in Nagaland had remained peaceful, attributing this in part to the homogeneous ethnicity and close familial and social ties of communities living on both sides of the border. He said there had been no reports of refugee ingress or influx into the State.
Against this backdrop, Rio argued that the PAP regime, re-imposed by the Centre in December 2024, does not reflect the prevailing circumstances in Nagaland and is adversely affecting the State’s developmental interests.
Tourism, investment hit
The Chief Minister said tourism was a key sector for Nagaland, supporting hotels, homestays, restaurants, transporters, guides, artisans, performers and entrepreneurs while creating opportunities for the State’s youth.
He cited a government survey which recorded more than ₹2.76 crore in hotel accommodation revenue during the 10-day Hornbill Festival in 2023, describing it as an indication of the wider economic impact of tourism.
Rio said the Hornbill Festival had grown from just over 28,000 visitors in 2010 to more than 2.14 lakh visitors in 2025, while foreign visitors to Kisama increased from 284 in 2010 to 2,528 in 2025. He noted that much of the growth in foreign arrivals occurred between 2011 and 2023, when the PAP regime had been relaxed.
He said the festival had also evolved into a platform for cultural diplomacy, investment promotion and international partnerships, with participation by foreign governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations, investors, artists and institutions.
According to Rio, the continuation of PAP therefore has implications beyond the inconvenience caused to individual foreign tourists, affecting tourism, investment, cultural exchanges, diplomatic participation and employment opportunities.
He said the late relaxation of PAP during the 2025 Hornbill Festival had demonstrated the limitations of temporary exemptions, as international visitors, investors, diplomatic missions and institutions require months of advance planning.
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Technology-based alternative proposed
Rio stressed that the State was not seeking the complete absence of regulation, but “better regulation” through technology.
He proposed a robust digital mechanism under which passport and visa details, travel itineraries, accommodation information and duration of stay could be registered and made available to authorised security and administrative agencies. District administrations, police and tourism authorities, he said, could work through an integrated monitoring system.
“This is a practical, modern and responsible way forward,” Rio said, maintaining that genuine visitors could be facilitated while national security interests remained protected.
‘Give youth opportunities, not restrictions’
The Chief Minister linked the PAP issue closely with the aspirations of Nagaland’s youth, saying young people increasingly seek opportunities in tourism, sports, music, technology, entrepreneurship, hospitality, fashion and the creative economy.
He said Nagaland’s artists, musicians, sportspersons, entrepreneurs and cultural ambassadors contribute not only to the State but also to India’s diversity and global image.
“The people of Nagaland therefore deserve an environment where such opportunities are expanded, not restricted,” Rio said.
He said the concern over PAP was shared by tribal organisations, civil society groups, tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs and investment agencies, and called for a united position by the Legislative Assembly.
Rio appealed to legislators across political affiliations to support the resolution urging the Government of India to urgently review and withdraw the PAP regime presently applicable to Nagaland and restore the relaxation that had earlier been in operation.
“Let this House send a clear and united message. Let us create pathways, not barriers. Let us give our youth opportunities, not restrictions,” he said.
Nagaland’s Situation Different: Temjen Imna Along
Initiating the discussion, Minister Temjen Imna Along said the original PAP regime was introduced under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order of 1958, particularly covering Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
He said PAP was relaxed for Nagaland from January 1, 2011, initially for one year and subsequently extended repeatedly. However, through a Ministry of Home Affairs circular dated December 17, 2024, the regime was reimposed in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Along said Nagaland has been particularly affected in tourism, investment and opportunities for its creative youth as a result of the reimposition.
As Minister in charge of Tourism and Higher Education, he said Nagaland should not be compared with Manipur, which has witnessed tragic incidents in recent years, or Mizoram, which has faced an influx of refugees from neighbouring countries.
He described Nagaland as a peaceful state with limited resources but strong human resources and said the government believes the Centre can understand the state’s unique circumstances.
Along said the State Government is concerned about national security and integrity and can take responsibility for monitoring foreign visitors entering Nagaland for tourism and other purposes.
He also recalled the difficulties faced in the past by foreign Christian visitors, referring to the denial of entry to Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, which he said had hurt the sentiments of the Naga Christian population.
He said Nagaland’s political history predates Indian independence and stressed that all 60 MLAs had sworn allegiance to the Constitution of India while also cherishing the protections provided under Article 371A for Naga heritage, culture and customary practices.
Along appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to remove PAP from Nagaland and allow the State Government to take responsibility for genuine visitors. He expressed hope that the Centre would recognise the cordial relationship between Delhi and Nagaland and allow the “Land of Festivals” to develop without the PAP regime.
Hekani Jakhalu: “We do not want to miss the bus”
Advisor Hekani Jakhalu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 is for every part of India to become developed, including Nagaland.
She said the state government, under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is working towards ensuring that Nagaland moves forward alongside the rest of the country despite its financial constraints.
Jakhalu linked the issue with India’s Act East Policy, launched in 2014 to strengthen India’s engagement with Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific while positioning Northeast India as an important gateway for regional engagement.
She said the policy focuses on economic growth, development, connectivity and security, while also seeking to address the Northeast’s dual status as a geopolitical asset and historically marginalised region.
However, she said the reimposition of PAP had delivered a “sudden jolt” to these efforts.
She recalled that on December 30, 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued instructions relaxing the Protected Area regime to boost tourism in three northeastern states that were heavily dependent on Central Government funding.
After 14 years of relaxation, she said, the reimposition of PAP could have a serious negative impact on Nagaland’s economic life.
Jakhalu said PAP creates a “fear psychosis” and a sense of insecurity among people in mainland India towards Nagaland.
She said she had experienced this directly in her role assisting the Chief Minister with the Industries and Commerce Department, where her responsibility includes inviting investors to the state.
She referred to the BHAVYA Scheme announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for plug-and-play industrial estates, under which states are required to secure anchor investors. Despite travelling and meeting companies, she said Nagaland was still struggling to secure clear investment commitments.
According to Jakhalu, senior leaders in Delhi had told her that people in mainland India still do not perceive Nagaland as a safe place.
She questioned who had created this misconception, pointing out that Nagaland has a very low crime rate and is known as one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country.
She said she did not undermine the wisdom of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but stressed that what works for Manipur may not necessarily work for Nagaland, and what works for Nagaland may not necessarily work for Mizoram.
“Every State has its own special unique local context, and the Government of India needs to deal with each State accordingly,” she said.
Investment and Employment Opportunities
Jakhalu also highlighted the Make in India initiative and Nagaland’s efforts to prepare its youth for global opportunities.
She said 190 young people trained in Nagaland through the Roon Training Centre under the Department of Industries and Commerce are currently employed in Japan’s manufacturing sector. Another 11 are lined up, while 20 more are preparing to take up opportunities in Germany.
She said the objective is for young people to learn from global best practices, acquire skills and experience and eventually return to contribute to the Make in India initiative in Nagaland.
Jakhalu said that by 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, Nagaland wants its children to inherit and enjoy a developed state like other developed states in the country.
She cautioned that fear and insecurity created by restrictive policies such as PAP could drive away potential investors.
“Just as Gujarat deserves investors, Nagaland deserves investors too,” she said, adding that young people and entrepreneurs in Nagaland deserve the opportunity to participate in India’s growth story.
She urged the Government of India to reconsider the reimposition of PAP in Nagaland, taking into account the state’s unique social, economic and security context.
“We do not want to miss the bus. We want the youth of Nagaland to be on that bus with the rest of India towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” she said.
Naiba Konyak Highlights Naga History and PAP Concerns
MLA Naiba Konyak highlighted the historical background of the Naga people, stating that prior to the arrival of the British, the Nagas lived as a sovereign and independent people, with villages maintaining their own systems of protection, customary practices and governance.
He said the British administered the Naga Hills separately from the rest of British India and referred to the Naga Club’s historic memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission in Kohima on January 10, 1929. The memorandum sought to ensure that the Nagas were left free to determine their own future and were not brought under any constitutional or administrative framework without their consent.
Konyak also referred to the designation of the Naga Hills as an “Excluded Area” under the Government of India Act, 1935, which allowed traditional village councils and customary laws to continue governing local affairs.
He said the 1929 memorandum became an important milestone in modern Naga nationalism and later influenced the formation of the Naga National Council.
He recalled the Naga declaration of independence on August 14, 1947, and the role played by the Nagas in supporting British and Indian forces during the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Kohima in 1944.
Konyak also recalled the subsequent deployment of the Indian Army in Naga areas and said the first army camp was established in his village, Changlangshun, in 1953, referring to the difficult experiences faced by the Naga people during that period.
He asserted that the Government of India should uphold Article 371A and respect Naga customary laws, culture and traditions.
Konyak said the Nagaland Government has been requesting the Centre to relax the PAP regime to facilitate development and promote tourism. He said easing the restrictions would allow more tourists to enter the state and contribute to the economy, while continued restrictions could affect Nagaland’s development and the aspirations of its people.
