India's Home Ministry bans new solar and wind projects within 1 km of borders

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued guidelines that prohibit the establishment of any new solar, wind or hybrid renewable energy projects within a one‑kilometre radius of the Line of Control, the Line of Actual Control and the international border. Areas up to 50 km from these borders are designated as “sensitive zones” and require security clearance from the MHA; projects within 20 km of the international border also need a no‑objection certificate from the Ministry of Defence. The rules bar the hiring of engineers, staff or labour from neighbouring border countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and China – without central government approval, and forbid the transfer of land to foreign companies without prior clearance.

All project proposals must be submitted to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, which will forward them, together with state‑government land‑allotment details, to the MHA and the Defence Ministry for assessment. Existing projects that already have MHA security clearance are exempt from re‑application. The guidelines also call for anti‑drone security systems operated by the Central Industrial Security Force or state police at approved sites.