Itanagar, May 28: In a significant move concerning policy and administration amid widespread concerns about demographic shifts and the protection of indigenous people, the Arunachal Pradesh administration has chosen to pursue the establishment of a separate department solely devoted to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.
The announcement of this initiative was made on Wednesday by Chief Minister Pema Khandu following a marathon seven-hour high-level consultative meeting attended by student organizations, legal experts, political parties, civil society representatives, and community-based groups.
This decision is coming at a particularly delicate period for Arunachal Pradesh, where concerns over the state’s indigenous culture, the issue of migration and the changing demographic balance are intensely emotional and politically sensitive.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted after the meeting: “BIG decisions taken today after a 7-hour marathon Consultative Meeting on Indigenous Tribal Rights, ILP and APST matters. Student bodies, legal experts, political parties, CBOs and civil society organisations came together for one of the most serious and extensive discussions on the future of Arunachal Pradesh and its indigenous people.”
He further added: “In principle, Arunachal Pradesh will now move towards creating a separate dedicated ILP Department, a major step towards strengthening the ILP system and protection of indigenous rights. Another key decision: 7-member delegations from Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum, AAPSU, ST Bachao Andolan Committee and legal experts have been invited for a high-level follow-up meeting on May 29 to shape the future roadmap.”
The Inner Line Permit system is an old one, enacted under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, which places limitations on the movement of non-natives within Arunachal Pradesh. The indigenous communities consider the ILP system to be the most effective tool for preventing their rights and culture from being threatened by incoming populations.
The current development has been occurring in the context of several demonstrations protesting the proposed “Arunachal Pradesh Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2026”. These proposals raised serious concerns among various student and indigenous organizations, who expressed fears that they might reduce the protective capacity of the existing system and undermine the original intent of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation.
On May 14th, the Arunachal Pradesh ST Bachao Andolan Committee (APSTBAC) conducted a 36-hour shutdown in protest, calling for stronger measures for ILP protection. This protest led to clashes between demonstrators and the police on May 15th in several parts of the state.
Khandu has assured reporters that the administration is dedicated to safeguarding the identities, demographic safety, and fundamental constitutional rights of the tribal populations of Arunachal Pradesh. He said, “All community-based organisations, student bodies, representatives of political parties and other stakeholders attended the consultative meeting and shared their concerns and suggestions.”
He also announced that delegations of seven members from the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the APSTBAC, and legal experts would be meeting with the state government on May 29th to create an action plan. According to political analysts, the decision to form a separate ILP department indicates the government’s intention to implement stricter enforcement measures, as concerns over migration, land rights, and tribal identity have increasingly become prevalent issues among people of Arunachal Pradesh. The new department would likely monitor the state’s ILP policy implementation and develop ways to strengthen it.
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