India, Nov. 30 -- The Government of India on Saturday notified a relaxation of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime for the upcoming Hornbill Festival, Nagaland's 10-day annual cultural and tourism event, set to begin on Monday.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the chief secretary of Nagaland in a letter.

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday appealed to Union home minister Amit Shah for the removal of the PAP regime from the state and also to clear permits for representatives of the partner countries of this year's Hornbill Festival, which coincides with the statehood day.

The PAP regime, a system that requires foreign nationals to obtain a permit to visit certain areas of India, mainly in the northeast, was lifted f...