Centre introduces stricter border movement regime along Myanmar

After facing backlash from states such as Nagaland, Mizoram, and civil societies, as well as tribal bodies in Manipur over last year announcement of scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, the Centre has introduced a stricter regime for the movement of people across the border. The new policy, which came into effect in December 2024, allows movement of individuals from Myanmar into India, but with additional requirements, such as the collection of documents and biometric details.

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Security officials familiar with the developments said the stricter regime was introduced after protests

from the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities, who linked the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) to rising ethnic violence in Manipur.

Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of scrapping the FMR, widespread protests took place in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, particularly among tribal communities with ethnic ties to Myanmar.

In response to these protests and the concerns raised by the state governments of Nagaland and Mizoram, the Centre, in late December, allowed these states to implement a stricter version of the FMR.

Under the new regime, border passes are issued to individuals from both Myanmar and India who wish to cross the border, primarily to visit relatives. These passes are granted after verifying the applicant's residential details (within 10 km of the border, validated by local police or village authorities), photographs and biometric data.

The passes are valid for seven days and permit movement only within a 10 km radius of the border. Upon returning, individuals must surrender the passes at designated border crossing points.

Since the introduction of this stricter regime in December 2024, around 5,000 to 6,000 people have crossed into India from Myanmar, according to security sources.

India shares a 1,643-km-long border with Myanmar, which passes through Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km). Of this, 1,472 km has already been demarcated.