With Nagaland set to host the 26th edition of the Hornbill Festival from December 1, 2025, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking urgent intervention for the clearance of Protected Area Permit (PAP) applications filed by international delegates. He also renewed the State’s long-standing demand for lifting the PAP regime altogether.
In the letter, Rio said the Hornbill Festival – one of India’s largest cultural events and a major economic driver for Nagaland – draws thousands of visitors from within the country and abroad. The festival coincides with the State Commemoration Day and, he noted, continues to generate significant employment and livelihood opportunities.
This year, six Partner Countries are scheduled to participate through cultural performances, business meetings and networking sessions. While logistical preparations for the festival have been completed, the Chief Minister said PAP applications for foreign participants remain pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), creating uncertainty with only days left for the event.
Calling the delay a matter of “serious concern,” Rio requested Shah’s “immediate and personal attention” to ensure the clearances are issued without further disruption to the international program.
ALSO READ | Franklin Graham’s visit to Nagaland cancelled after Visa denial; Congress slams Centre
Reiterating Nagaland’s repeated appeals for the removal of the PAP requirement, Rio said the permit system continues to impose procedural hurdles for tourists and has adversely affected the State’s economy and external image. He recalled earlier “positive assurances” from the Home Minister on easing restrictions but added that the regime continues unchanged.
Pointing to Nagaland’s long-standing partnership with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government, Rio urged the Centre to take a “positive and timely decision.” Ending the PAP regime, he said, would improve ease of movement, boost tourism and further integrate Nagaland with the rest of the country.
Such an intervention, Rio wrote, would also send a “strong and reassuring message” that the NDA government remains committed to the people of Nagaland and their role in nation-building.
