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Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 3 times

Arunachal Pradesh

Constitutional Status and "Inner Line" Regime

Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state of India on February 20, 1987 (Statehood Day), having been previously a Union Territory (as the North-East Frontier Agency / NEFA from 1954, and Arunachal Pradesh UT from 1972). The state has special protections under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime — non-residents of the state (including other Indian citizens) require an ILP to enter.

Key details
  • Arunachal Pradesh statehood: February 20, 1987 (was NEFA / UT before).
  • Area: ~83,743 sq km; shares international borders with Bhutan (160 km), China (1,080 km), Myanmar (520 km).
  • Inner Line Permit (ILP): required for all non-residents; extends to foreign nationals as Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
  • ILP is governed by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 — a colonial-era regulation.
  • The state was the site of the 1962 Sino-Indian War; India's October 20, 1962 counterattack in NEFA was launched from here.
  • China has challenged India's road and infrastructure building in Arunachal Pradesh at the UNSC and bilateral forums.
In the news

Tracked since April 12, 2026 · last seen August 07, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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