Itanagar, March 6, 2026:
The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has issued an order restricting the conduct of weekly markets across the state to only once a week, with Saturday designated as the market day for the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) and Papum Pare district. The directive was issued by the Home Department on March 6, 2026, following a meeting chaired by the state’s Home Minister to deliberate on issues raised by several local organisations.
According to the official order, the decision was taken after reviewing representations submitted by organisations including the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation (ANYO). The government noted that weekly markets were being conducted on multiple days across different locations, which led to frequent participation of non-local vendors and raised concerns about the possible entry of unauthorized immigrants into the state.
The order further stated that the practice of operating markets on several days was also contributing to revenue loss for the state government.
Under the new directive, weekly markets in ICR and Papum Pare district will now be permitted only on Saturdays, and conducting such markets on other days will not be allowed. For the rest of the districts in Arunachal Pradesh, the respective Deputy Commissioners have been directed to fix one specific day in a week for the operation of weekly markets within their jurisdictions.
The issue of weekly markets has been under discussion for several months, with local organisations raising concerns over the activities taking place in these markets. Groups such as APIYO, ANYO and the Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal (IYFA) have been demanding the closure or strict regulation of weekly markets in the ICR region since last year, citing fears that outsiders were entering Arunachal Pradesh under the pretext of doing business in these markets.
These organisations have also raised broader concerns related to illegal settlements in the capital region. They have demanded the demolition of alleged illegal structures such as masjids, madrasas and panja khanas in Itanagar and Naharlagun, claiming that such constructions violate existing regulations and contribute to concerns over unauthorized entry into the state.
Meanwhile, the state government has directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to implement the new order immediately. District authorities have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of the directive and submit an Action Taken Report to the Home Department after its implementation.
With the issuance of the order, the government has made it clear that weekly markets across Arunachal Pradesh will now be strictly limited to one day in a week, with district administrations responsible for regulating and monitoring their operations.
