Assam will begin issuing firearm licences to indigenous people living in vulnerable and remote areas from February 2026, following a cabinet decision in May 2025. The scheme targets residents of districts such as Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon, South Salmara-Mankachar, and localities like Rupahi, Dhing, and Jania, where indigenous communities have expressed concerns over security due to demographic changes and proximity to the Bangladesh border. Applications are being scrutinized, and licences will be granted selectively after thorough police verification and assessment of vulnerability. The government clarified that only original inhabitants and indigenous citizens of India are eligible, and the process is not targeted at any specific community. The move is seen as an effort to instil a sense of security among local residents amid ongoing social and economic shifts in the region.