Nagaland Rio presses Centre for immediate PAP clearance ahead of Hornbill Festival

As the annual 26th edition of the Hornbill Festival is set to begin on December 1, 2025, the state chief minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, has urged the union home minister Amit Shah to immediately intervene in the clearance of Protected Area Permit (PAP) applications for international delegates.
In a letter to union home minister, Rio also reiterated the long-standing demand for lifting the PAP regime from the state.
The chief minister highlighted that the Hornbill Festival, which coincides with the State Commemoration Day, attracts thousands of visitors from across India and abroad. Describing the Hornbill Festival as a crucial driver of the state’s economy, Rio underscored its vital role in generating employment and livelihood opportunities.
He pointed out that this year’s edition would feature six Partner Countries, whose representatives were scheduled to participate in cultural showcases, business roundtables and networking sessions. The chief minister informed that all preparations for the festival have been completed, but clearance of PAPs for foreign delegates remained pending with the ministry of home affairs.
With only days remaining before the festival’s opening, Rio said that delay has created “serious concern.” The chief minister has, therefore, sought Shah’s “immediate and personal attention” to ensure urgent issuance of the permits.
Reiterating his repeated appeals for the removal of the PAP regime from Nagaland, the chief minister said that despite earlier positive assurances from the union home minister, the permit requirement continued to pose procedural challenges to tourists, adversely impacting both the state’s economy and its image.
Emphasising Nagaland’s long-standing partnership with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its participation under the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) banner, the chief minister appealed for the Centre’s support. He said that lifting PAP regime would significantly boost tourism, improve ease of movement and further strengthen Nagaland’s integration with the rest of the country. The chief minister stressed that a positive intervention would send a “strong and reassuring message” that the NDA government stood firmly with the people of Nagaland in the shared goal of nation-building.