Inner Line Permit

<h2 id="background">Background</h2>
The administrative device of Inner Line was introduced by the <a href="/facts/British_India/qdbjMfvI">British India</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a>
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 intersts into the tribal territory would cause disturbances that might warrant expensive punitive expeditions. The governement was intent to ward off such dangers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a>
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".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> The territory beyond the inner line came to be called "Backward Tracts", and later "Excluded Areas".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> After Indian independence, they were named "<a href="/facts/Scheduled_Areas/RA6pGy2A">Scheduled Areas</a>" 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
The Inner Line regulations were applied to the frontier tracts that currently make up <a href="/facts/Arunachal_Pradesh/4rrSKgGE">Arunachal Pradesh</a>, <a href="/facts/Nagaland/DIhsVRqL">Nagaland</a> (then <a href="/facts/Naga_Hills/xAn8JJ9A">Naga Hills</a> district) and <a href="/facts/Mizoram/RQXMgMFl">Mizoram</a> (then <a href="/facts/Lushai_Hills/0PQEeRBb">Lushai Hills</a> district). Parts of it also applied to the <a href="/facts/Garo_Hills/H8rCVXXr">Garo Hills</a> district, repealed in 1897, and to the <a href="/facts/Chittagong_Hills/gDCNvQsI">Chittagong Hills</a> region, repealed in 1903. They were never applied to the <a href="/facts/Princely_states/3HFwekHD">princely states</a> such as <a href="/facts/Manipur_(princely_state)/KV4eocMx">Manipur</a> and <a href="/facts/Tripura_(princely_state)/FwxVrCrw">Tripura</a> or protectorates such as <a href="/facts/Sikkim/x89Pn6xf">Sikkim</a>.

<h2 id="constitutionality">Constitutionality</h2>
According to the <a href="/facts/Constitution_of_India/u9BCSHYF">Constitution of India</a>, 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.
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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="states-which-require-a-permit">States which require a permit</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Arunachal_Pradesh/4rrSKgGE">Arunachal Pradesh</a> — Issued by the secretary (political) of the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Arunachal_Pradesh/ehNTL8vJ">Government of Arunachal Pradesh</a>. It is required for entering Arunachal Pradesh through any of the check gates across the interstate border with <a href="/facts/Assam/64Hs7TwB">Assam</a> or <a href="/facts/Nagaland/DIhsVRqL">Nagaland</a>. 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> The Arunachal Pradesh government is planning to implement a permit-on-arrival system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Manipur/afIbV0R2">Manipur</a> — Issued by the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Manipur/Nr9N85bu">Government of Manipur</a>. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime was extended to Manipur on 11 December 2019 with President <a href="/facts/Ram_Nath_Kovind/M3rpRqm0">Ram Nath Kovind</a> signing the order to this effect. The decision comes two days after Union Home Minister <a href="/facts/Amit_Shah/4fjzfjEq">Amit Shah</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Mizoram/RQXMgMFl">Mizoram</a> — Issued by the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Mizoram/bjljJUN0">Government of Mizoram</a>. 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> If arriving by air, an ILP can be obtained on arrival at Lengpui Airport in <a href="/facts/Aizawl/tL1TVPTr">Aizawl</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Nagaland/DIhsVRqL">Nagaland</a> — Issued by the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Nagaland/Rgrt4sXs">Government of Nagaland</a>. The Regulation makes it obligatory for anyone, both Indian Citizen and Foreigner, who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland, to obtain an <a href="/facts/Nagaland_Inner_Line_Permit/X6FSQ1MG">Inner Line Permit</a> (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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a> The permit fee is INR 200 for Indian and INR 300 for foreign tourists. Higher fees apply to other categories.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a></li></ul>
An ILP was previously required for certain parts of the <a href="/facts/Leh_district/VpEAIK1f">Leh district</a> in <a href="/facts/Ladakh/ekL17WAx">Ladakh</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/Foreigners_(Protected_Areas)_Order_1958_(India)/wk1IWrDv">Protected Area Permit</a> for this region.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a> The ILP was implemented again in 2017 only to be removed again in 2021.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a>

<h2 id="demands-for-ilp-in-other-states">Demands for ILP in other states</h2>
There are ongoing demands for the introduction of an ILP in <a href="/facts/Meghalaya/lkm1Upzw">Meghalaya</a> to regulate the entry of outsiders into the state.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>
There are also strong demands in <a href="/facts/Tamil_Nadu/ouqcjUKE">Tamil Nadu</a> for the introduction of ILP to regulate the unauthorized entry of outsiders into the state to reduce the crime rates.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li>India portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Protected_area_permit/wk1IWrDv">Protected area permit</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>
<ul><li>Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, <a href="/facts/JSTOR_(identifier)/YTeVmaJ7">JSTOR</a> <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864">44003864</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Barua, Taz (2017). "Return of the Frontier: Understanding the Demands for Inner Line in Northeast India". Alternatives: Global, Local, Political. 42 (3): 107–120. <a href="/facts/ISSN_(identifier)/DPAflDvU">ISSN</a> <a href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0304-3754">0304-3754</a>. <a href="/facts/JSTOR_(identifier)/YTeVmaJ7">JSTOR</a> <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/26585101">26585101</a>.</li>
<li>Thejalhoukho (1 October 2024). "An elusive line in an elusive frontier: Delineating the historical trajectory of the inner line in India's northeast". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 61 (4): 521–540. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00194646241285363">10.1177/00194646241285363</a>. <a href="/facts/ISSN_(identifier)/DPAflDvU">ISSN</a> <a href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0019-4646">0019-4646</a>.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://arunachalilp.com">Apply for Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190402081737/https://arunachalilp.com/">Archived</a> 2 April 2019 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mizoram.nic.in/more/ilp.htm">Apply for Inner Line Permit for Mizoram</a></li>
<li><a href="http://home.nagaland.gov.in/inner-line-permit-ilp/">Apply for Inner Line Permit for Nagaland</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Lamb, Alastair (1966), The McMahon Line: a Study in the Relations Between, India, China and Tibet, 1904 to 1914, Vol. 2: Hardinge, McMahon and the Simla Conference, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 312 – via archive.org <a href="https://archive.org/details/mcmahonlinestudy0002lamb_h1e5" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/mcmahonlinestudy0002lamb_h1e5</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media (2016), pp. 12–13. - Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, JSTOR 44003864 <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Lamb, Alastair (1966), The McMahon Line: a Study in the Relations Between, India, China and Tibet, 1904 to 1914, Vol. 2: Hardinge, McMahon and the Simla Conference, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 312 – via archive.org <a href="https://archive.org/details/mcmahonlinestudy0002lamb_h1e5" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/mcmahonlinestudy0002lamb_h1e5</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media (2016), pp. 12–13. - Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, JSTOR 44003864 <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media (2016), p. 12. - Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, JSTOR 44003864 <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media (2016), p. 13. - Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, JSTOR 44003864 <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Phanjoubam, Manipur and Mainstream Media (2016), p. 13. - Phanjoubam, Pradip (23 July 2016), "Manipur and Mainstream Media: Lost in the Rhetoric", Economic and Political Weekly, 51 (30): 12–15, JSTOR 44003864 <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/44003864</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">"Inner Line Permit will destroy nation's integrity, says SYS". The Hindu. 18 December 2019. <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/inner-line-permit-will-destroy-nations-integrity-says-sys/article30342264.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/inner-line-permit-will-destroy-nations-integrity-says-sys/article30342264.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"Inner Line Permit: Supreme Court issues notices to Union, Manipur governments". The Hindu. 3 January 2022. <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/inner-line-permit-supreme-court-issues-notices-to-union-manipur-governments/article38101902.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/inner-line-permit-supreme-court-issues-notices-to-union-manipur-governments/article38101902.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Website of Lower Dibang Valley State of Arunachal Pradesh, http://roing.nic.in/permit.htm <a href="/wiki/Lower_Dibang_Valley" target="_blank">/wiki/Lower_Dibang_Valley</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Entry procedure, State of Arunachal Pradesh, http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/enter_ap.htm <a href="/wiki/State_of_Arunachal_Pradesh" target="_blank">/wiki/State_of_Arunachal_Pradesh</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"Liza Travels". www.lizaworldtravels.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012.
 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120714041801/http://www.lizaworldtravels.com/arunachal-pradesh.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120714041801/http://www.lizaworldtravels.com/arunachal-pradesh.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Chandra, Abhimanyu. "China urged to accept Arunachal as part of India, but Indians can't enter state without permits". Scroll.in. <a href="http://scroll.in/article/679148/china-urged-to-accept-arunachal-as-part-of-india-but-indians-cant-enter-state-without-permits" target="_blank">http://scroll.in/article/679148/china-urged-to-accept-arunachal-as-part-of-india-but-indians-cant-enter-state-without-permits</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">"Inner line permit regime extended to Manipur; President signs order". 11 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2020. <a href="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." target="_blank">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.</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Entry procedure, State of Mizoram, http://mizoram.nic.in/more/ilp.htm <a href="/wiki/State_of_Mizoram" target="_blank">/wiki/State_of_Mizoram</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">"Untitled Page". Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170906130302/http://mizoramhouse.nic.in/EntryFormalities2.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170906130302/http://mizoramhouse.nic.in/EntryFormalities2.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">"Fullstopindia.com". www.fullstopindia.com. <a href="http://www.fullstopindia.com/permits-for-north-east-india-tourists" target="_blank">http://www.fullstopindia.com/permits-for-north-east-india-tourists</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">"Nagaland Inner Line Permit". Retrieved 23 December 2020. <a href="https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/" target="_blank">https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">"Nagaland ILP". <a href="https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/fees" target="_blank">https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/fees</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">No need for ‘Inner Line Permit’ for domestic tourists visiting Leh"No need for 'Inner Line Permit' for domestic tourists visiting Leh - Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014. <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">"Ladakh Removes Inner Line Permit Restrictions for Tourists". News18. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021. <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/ladakh-removes-inner-line-permit-restrictions-for-tourists-4054898.html" target="_blank">https://www.news18.com/news/india/ladakh-removes-inner-line-permit-restrictions-for-tourists-4054898.html</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">"Massive rally in Shillong backs ILP - Thousands gather at students' field to support cause". www.telegraphindia.com. <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/massive-rally-in-shillong-backs-ilp-thousands-gather-at-students-field-to-support-cause/cid/230432" target="_blank">https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/massive-rally-in-shillong-backs-ilp-thousands-gather-at-students-field-to-support-cause/cid/230432</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Staff, T. N. M. (9 April 2022). "Introduce Inner Line Permit for north Indians entering Tamil Nadu: NTK chief Seeman". The News Minute. Retrieved 26 March 2024. <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/introduce-inner-line-permit-north-indians-entering-tamil-nadu-ntk-chief-seeman-162747" target="_blank">https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/introduce-inner-line-permit-north-indians-entering-tamil-nadu-ntk-chief-seeman-162747</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">"Ensure jobs of Tamils not taken away by others: Tamil Nadu MLA to state govt". India Today. Retrieved 26 March 2024. <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ensure-jobs-tamils-not-taken-away-others-tamil-nadu-mla-urges-state-govt-1870939-2021-10-29" target="_blank">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ensure-jobs-tamils-not-taken-away-others-tamil-nadu-mla-urges-state-govt-1870939-2021-10-29</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">Agencies (9 March 2023). "Tamil outfit demands Inner Line Permit for state to 'protect' jobs". The Shillong Times. Retrieved 26 March 2024. <a href="https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/03/09/tamil-outfit-demands-inner-line-permit-for-state-to-protect-jobs/" target="_blank">https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/03/09/tamil-outfit-demands-inner-line-permit-for-state-to-protect-jobs/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Staff, T. N. M. (30 October 2021). "TN MLA demands inner line permit system for people from other states entering TN". The News Minute. Retrieved 26 March 2024. <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/tn-mla-demands-inner-line-permit-system-people-other-states-entering-tn-157074" target="_blank">https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/tn-mla-demands-inner-line-permit-system-people-other-states-entering-tn-157074</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">"T.N. needs inner line permit system to protect jobs for Tamils: Tamizh Desiya Periyakkam". The Hindu. 8 March 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 March 2024. <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-needs-inner-line-permit-system-to-protect-jobs-for-tamils-tamizh-desiya-periyakkam/article66595040.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-needs-inner-line-permit-system-to-protect-jobs-for-tamils-tamizh-desiya-periyakkam/article66595040.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Inner Line Permit open-in-new

Inner Line Permit