What happened: MHA security guidelines for border renewable energy projects
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued national security guidelines for solar, wind and hybrid renewable energy projects in border areas.
The MHA guidelines introduce distance-based restrictions from the international border and require security clearances for projects located closer to sensitive control lines. The guidelines also restrict certain foreign participation and land transfer to foreign companies without specified approvals.
What the guidelines require: distance thresholds and clearance permissions
MHA uses three distance bands from the international border for renewable energy project activity and approval:
- Within 1 km of the international border: renewable energy project activity is prohibited. MHA treats this 1 km belt as a “restricted area,” where no project activity is permitted. - Between 1 km and 20 km: renewable energy projects require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). - Up to 50 km from the international border: renewable energy projects require MHA security clearance, assessed case-by-case.
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