India

Respect local dress and customs, particularly when visiting religious sites and rural areas. 

Laws on alcohol, including buying, drinking and the legal drinking age, vary by state. Get advice from your travel agent, hotel or the authorities about the laws in areas you are visiting.

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, such as parks.

In some states, foreign nationals and non-resident Indians can buy 30-day alcohol permits.

There is often a ban on the sale of alcohol during major religious festivals, national holidays and elections. Police can carry out vehicle checks during this period.

The consumption, production or transportation of alcohol is illegal in:

• Bihar
• Gujarat
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Union Territory of Lakshadweep

If you drink or possess alcohol in these states, you could be arrested and held without bail. You could face a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years.

It is illegal to smoke in most public places. Only smoke in designated smoking areas.

Vapes and related products are banned. You cannot buy vapes in India or bring them into the country.

Do not get involved with any illegal drugs. Drugs are not categorised as they would be in the UK, into Class A, B and C and possession of any illegal drug could lead to sentencing. You could face a minimum sentence of 6 months for possession of small amounts deemed for personal consumption only, up to a 10-year sentence for other amounts. The judicial process is slow, and you could be detained for several years while your case is processed.

Activities involving cameras and binoculars, like photography, birdwatching or plane spotting, may be misunderstood. Be particularly careful near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

It is illegal to possess and operate satellite phones and GPS devices in India without a licence, even if you are only transiting through India. This may also cover other satellite-enabled devices, including handheld or cycling GPSs. You can be fined or arrested for possession of these devices without permission and the item can be confiscated.

A number of British nationals have been arrested or detained for bringing satellite phones and other satellite-enabled navigational devices into the country without prior permission. Contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request a licence. Further information is also available at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

There are strong currents off many coasts and people drown every year. Most beaches do not have warning signs, flags or lifesaving equipment. Take local advice and follow warnings and instructions issued by lifeguards. Emergency service standards may differ from those in the UK.  

See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.

Trekkers should:

• travel in groups
• use reputable local guides and stay on established routes
• check if you need any special permits

Leave details of where you’re going and when you expect to return with your accommodation. You are extremely unlikely to have a phone signal in the mountains, so make sure your accommodation provider registers your whereabouts using the online C-form.

It is illegal to possess or operate satellite phones or GPS devices without prior permission of the Indian authorities. Contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request a licence.

Hazards when trekking exist throughout the year, especially above 3,000 metres, including:

• altitude sickness
• sudden weather changes, including thunderstorms
• avalanches and snow drifts
• landslides, flooding and rock falls

Make sure your insurance policy covers you for altitudes over 2,400m and mountain rescue and helicopter costs.

There are no commercial mountain rescue services operating above 3,000m. In some border areas only the Indian Air Force can carry out air rescues. However, they are under no obligation to perform them and only carry out rescues during working hours.

Same-sex sexual relationships are legal in India. However same-sex marriage is illegal. Indian society is conservative. This includes attitudes to LGBT+ people, which can be less accepting than in the UK. There is a risk of harassment and discrimination, especially outside of big cities. Showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.

See more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Indian family law is different from UK law. Special caution is needed when child custody becomes an issue. In case of dispute, consult a lawyer in India to find out more about the relevant laws.

Commercial surrogacy is illegal for foreign nationals in India. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) can seek legal guidance on surrogacy if at least one partner is an Indian passport holder.

It is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. India has a strong legal framework to regulate and restrict wildlife trade and is also a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). If you’re caught purchasing or trafficking these illegally, you will be prosecuted and receive a prison sentence or fine.

There are severe penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child. There is a minimum jail term of 20 years, which may go up to life in prison or a death sentence, for anyone convicted of raping a child aged 12 or under.

The monsoon season in India usually runs from June to October. Monsoon rains can cause:

• flash flooding and landslides, which can often occur with limited warning, sometimes leading to significant loss of life and property, particularly in mountainous areas
• towns and villages to be cut off
• road closures affecting transport links
• disruption in big cities due to flooding
• disruption to services including telephone lines, internet services and electricity

Tropical cyclones are a risk in India, particularly in:

• the east coast of India, from September to December
• the Bay of Bengal, from April to June and September to December
• south India, from June to November

Tropical cyclones can cause:

• high winds, which can damage or destroy buildings, bring down trees and power and telephone lines
• storm surges, which can cause a temporary rise in sea level of several metres which can flood coastal areas and damage buildings on the shoreline
• heavy rainfall, which can cause flooding and mudslides

Several parts of India lie on highly active fault zones, including areas of the north and north-east. The most active are along the length of the Himalayas. Tremors are common in these regions and can cause landslides. Limited emergency response vehicles, equipment and medical facilities could increase an earthquake’s impact.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.