Centre Updates Protected Areas List in Rajasthan for Foreign National Authorization

The Centre has amended the Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025, revising the list of protected areas in Rajasthan where foreign nationals may require special authorisation for travel or stay. The changes were notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs through a gazette notification issued on June 18 and are aimed at updating regulations governing access to sensitive border regions.

The revised schedule covers protected areas across the border districts of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Barmer, Phalodi and Jalore. The amendment also formally incorporates Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders into the regulatory framework by defining the category under the updated order, bringing them within the scope of the revised provisions.

According to the notification, several tehsils located close to the India-Pakistan border continue to remain protected areas. These regions require foreign nationals to obtain the necessary permissions before travelling or staying there, in line with existing security and administrative protocols designed for sensitive border locations.

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At the same time, the Centre has exempted the city limits of major towns, including Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer, Sanchore, Sriganganagar, Suratgarh, Phalodi, Bap and Pokaran, from the protected area restrictions. The notification also exempts peripheral areas along National Highways 62, 11 and 68, facilitating easier movement through these routes.

Several popular tourist destinations in Jaisalmer district have also been kept outside the protected area restrictions. These include Amarsagar, Lodrava, Kuldhara, Bada Bagh, Akal, Sam, Unda and Khuhri, along with areas extending 500 metres on either side of the roads leading to these locations. The exemptions are intended to support tourism activities such as desert safaris, camping and desert rallies.

The updated notification seeks to balance national security considerations with tourism and public convenience in Rajasthan's border districts. By revising the protected areas list and clearly identifying exempted towns and tourist sites, the Centre aims to streamline travel regulations while maintaining safeguards in strategically important regions along the international border.

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