Inner Line Permit

The administrative device of Inner Line was introduced by the British India through the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. It authorised the provincial government to define a so-called "Inner Line" beyond which "British subjects" (i.e., the people of the British Indian provinces) could not travel without a pass. The regulations also laid down rules regarding trade, possession of land and other matters.

{{citation |last=Lamb |first=Alastair |title=The McMahon Line: a Study in the Relations Between, India, China and Tibet, 1904 to 1914, Vol. 2: Hardinge, McMahon and the Simla Conference |year=1966 |publisher=Routledge & K. Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/mcmahonlinestudy0002lamb_h1e5 |via=archive.org |url-access=registration |page=312}}

{{sfnp|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016|pp=12–13}}

The rationale for the regulation arose from the expansion of the tea industry in the Himalayan foothills in the second half of the nineteenth century. Timber companies also looked to the forest areas for extracting resource. The British government felt that uncontrolled expansion of the commercial interests into the tribal territory would cause disturbances that might warrant expensive punitive expeditions. The government was intent to ward off such dangers.{{sfnp|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016|pp=12–13}}

According to an administrator who was given the task of demarcating it, the Inner Line was supposed to "demarcate the Hills from the plains, the nomadic from the sedentary, the jungle from the arable – in short, the tribal areas from the Assam proper".{{sfnp|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016|p=12}} The territory beyond the inner line came to be called "Backward Tracts", and later "Excluded Areas".{{sfnp|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016|p=13}} After Indian independence, they were named "Scheduled Areas" and the inner line mechanism was retained as a means of protecting the hill tribes and safeguarding their culture, by barring land acquisition by non-indigenous people.{{sfnp|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016|p=13}}

The Inner Line regulations were applied to the frontier tracts that currently make up Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland (then Naga Hills district) and Mizoram (then Lushai Hills district). Parts of it also applied to the Garo Hills district, repealed in 1897, and to the Chittagong Hills region, repealed in 1903. They were never applied to the princely states such as Manipur and Tripura or protectorates such as Sikkim.

According to the Constitution of India, all Indian citizens are free to live and work in any state of the country, but entry to certain states with a protected status requires authorisation by the state government concerned.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

There are allegations that ILP will violates the fundamental rights of the Indian citizens guaranteed under Articles of 14, 15, 19 and 21 and also it will suppress the nation's Integrity.

{{Cite news |title=Inner Line Permit will destroy nation’s integrity, says SYS |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/inner-line-permit-will-destroy-nations-integrity-says-sys/article30342264.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2019-12-18}}

{{Cite news |title=Inner Line Permit: Supreme Court issues notices to Union, Manipur governments |work=The Hindu |date=2022-01-03 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/inner-line-permit-supreme-court-issues-notices-to-union-manipur-governments/article38101902.ece }}

• Arunachal Pradesh — Issued by the secretary (political) of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. It is required for entering Arunachal Pradesh through any of the check gates across the interstate border with Assam or Nagaland. An ILP for temporary visitors is valid for 15 days and can be extended, while one for those taking employment in the state and their immediate family members is valid for a year.Website of Lower Dibang Valley State of Arunachal Pradesh, http://roing.nic.in/permit.htmEntry procedure, State of Arunachal Pradesh, http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/enter_ap.htm{{cite web |url=http://www.lizaworldtravels.com/arunachal-pradesh.htm |title=Liza Travels |website=www.lizaworldtravels.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714041801/http://www.lizaworldtravels.com/arunachal-pradesh.htm |archive-date=2012-07-14}} The Arunachal Pradesh government is planning to implement a permit-on-arrival system.{{Cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/679148/china-urged-to-accept-arunachal-as-part-of-india-but-indians-cant-enter-state-without-permits|title=China urged to accept Arunachal as part of India, but Indians can't enter state without permits|first=Abhimanyu|last=Chandra|website=Scroll.in}}
• Manipur — Issued by the Government of Manipur. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime was extended to Manipur on 11 December 2019 with President Ram Nath Kovind signing the order to this effect. The decision comes two days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in Lok Sabha that the ILP would be extended to the northeastern state. Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-12-11|title=Inner line permit regime extended to Manipur; President signs order|url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/ilp-regime-extended-to-manipur-president-signs-order-119121101621_1.html#:~:text=President%20Ram%20Nath%20Kovind%20signed%20an%20order%20to,ILP%20would%20be%20extended%20to%20the%20northeastern%20state.|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-23|website=}}
• Mizoram — Issued by the Government of Mizoram. It is required for entering Mizoram through any of the check gates across the interstate borders. Typically, a "Temporary ILP" is issued to visitors, which is valid for 15 days and can be extended another 15 days, with the possibility of extending it to one month in exceptional circumstances. However, with the sponsorship of a local resident or government department, a "Regular ILP" can be procured, which is valid for 6 months and can be renewed twice for another 6 months each.Entry procedure, State of Mizoram, http://mizoram.nic.in/more/ilp.htm{{Cite web |url=http://mizoramhouse.nic.in/EntryFormalities2.aspx |title=Untitled Page |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906130302/http://mizoramhouse.nic.in/EntryFormalities2.aspx |url-status=dead }} If arriving by air, an ILP can be obtained on arrival at Lengpui Airport in Aizawl.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fullstopindia.com/permits-for-north-east-india-tourists|title=Fullstopindia.com|website=www.fullstopindia.com}}
• Nagaland — Issued by the Government of Nagaland. The Regulation makes it obligatory for anyone, both Indian Citizen and Foreigner, who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland, to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) in such form, and with such conditions, as may be prescribed by the Government of Nagaland, to enter the state of Nagaland for a limited period.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Nagaland Inner Line Permit|url=https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-23|website=}} The permit fee is INR 200 for Indian and INR 300 for foreign tourists. Higher fees apply to other categories.{{cite web|url=https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/fees|title=Nagaland ILP}}

An ILP was previously required for certain parts of the Leh district in Ladakh. This requirement was abolished by a circular issued by the district magistrate which took effect from 1 May 2014, although foreign nationals are required to get Protected Area Permit for this region.No need for ‘Inner Line Permit’ for domestic tourists visiting Leh{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jandk/no-need-for-inner-line-permit-for-domestic-tourists-visiting-leh/article1-1219207.aspx |title=No need for 'Inner Line Permit' for domestic tourists visiting Leh - Hindustan Times |accessdate=2014-07-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053627/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jandk/no-need-for-inner-line-permit-for-domestic-tourists-visiting-leh/article1-1219207.aspx |archivedate=2014-08-08 }} The ILP was implemented again in 2017 only to be removed again in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-06|title=Ladakh Removes Inner Line Permit Restrictions for Tourists|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/ladakh-removes-inner-line-permit-restrictions-for-tourists-4054898.html|access-date=2021-08-07|website=News18|language=en}}

There are ongoing demands for the introduction of an ILP in Meghalaya to regulate the entry of outsiders into the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/massive-rally-in-shillong-backs-ilp-thousands-gather-at-students-field-to-support-cause/cid/230432|title=Massive rally in Shillong backs ILP - Thousands gather at students' field to support cause|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}

There are also strong demands in Tamil Nadu for the introduction of ILP to regulate the unauthorized entry of outsiders into the state to reduce the crime rates.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=2022-04-09 |title=Introduce Inner Line Permit for north Indians entering Tamil Nadu: NTK chief Seeman |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/introduce-inner-line-permit-north-indians-entering-tamil-nadu-ntk-chief-seeman-162747 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ensure jobs of Tamils not taken away by others: Tamil Nadu MLA to state govt |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ensure-jobs-tamils-not-taken-away-others-tamil-nadu-mla-urges-state-govt-1870939-2021-10-29 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Agencies |date=2023-03-09 |title=Tamil outfit demands Inner Line Permit for state to ‘protect’ jobs |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/03/09/tamil-outfit-demands-inner-line-permit-for-state-to-protect-jobs/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The Shillong Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=2021-10-30 |title=TN MLA demands inner line permit system for people from other states entering TN |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/tn-mla-demands-inner-line-permit-system-people-other-states-entering-tn-157074 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-03-08 |title=T.N. needs inner line permit system to protect jobs for Tamils: Tamizh Desiya Periyakkam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-needs-inner-line-permit-system-to-protect-jobs-for-tamils-tamizh-desiya-periyakkam/article66595040.ece |access-date=2024-03-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

{{Portal|India}}

• Protected area permit

{{reflist}}

• {{citation |title=Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric |first=Pradip |last=Phanjoubam |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=51 |number=30 |date=23 July 2016 |pages=12–15 |jstor=44003864 |ref={{sfnref|Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media|2016}}}}

• {{Cite journal |last=Barua |first=Taz |date=2017 |title=Return of the Frontier: Understanding the Demands for Inner Line in Northeast India |journal=Alternatives: Global, Local, Political |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=107–120 |jstor=26585101 |issn=0304-3754}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Thejalhoukho |date=2024-10-01 |title=An elusive line in an elusive frontier: Delineating the historical trajectory of the inner line in India’s northeast |journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review |language=en |volume=61 |issue=4 |pages=521–540 |doi=10.1177/00194646241285363 |issn=0019-4646}}

• [https://arunachalilp.com Apply for Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402081737/https://arunachalilp.com/ |date=2 April 2019 }}
• [http://mizoram.nic.in/more/ilp.htm Apply for Inner Line Permit for Mizoram]
• [http://home.nagaland.gov.in/inner-line-permit-ilp/ Apply for Inner Line Permit for Nagaland]

Category:Government of India

Category:Tourism in India

Category:Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh