Free Movement Regime

Published on 25 Mar 2025

•  The FMR along the India-Myanmar border will be cancelled soon to stop its misuse by insurgent groups to carry out attacks, put a halt to the influx of illegal immigrants and paralyze drugs and gold smuggling networks.
• The free movement regime allows people residing close to the India-Myanmar border on either side to venture into the other’s territory without a visa.
• Under this, every member of the hill tribes, who is either a citizen of India or a citizen of Myanmar can travel within 16 km on either side of IMB on production of a border pass with one year validity and can stay up to two weeks per visit.
• It was implemented in 2018 as part of India’s Act East policy, an effort to boost the region’s economy by boosting India’s trade with ASEAN and other Southeast Asian nations.

Keywords:

Internal security North east Insurgency India-Myanmar border Free movement regime Golden triangle Act east policy