Informational only, not legal advice. Verify with official sources before relying on this.

Know Abroad

IndiaIndia

Local Laws & Customs

Last verified August 21, 2026

Written for U.S. passport holders

Public Conduct

  • Dress modestly, especially at religious sites (shoulders and legs covered, shoes off before entering temples); public displays of affection beyond hand-holding can draw unwanted attention or, in rare cases, police involvement in more conservative areas.

Medicines You Can't Bring

  • Bring medications in original packaging with the prescription; stimulant and opioid-based medications fall under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and may require additional documentation for larger quantities.

Photography & Drones

  • Photography is generally allowed in public places, but avoid government buildings, military installations, airports, and some religious sites without explicit permission; look for posted signs. Drones require registration through India's Digital Sky platform, and flying near airports, the border, and government facilities is heavily restricted.

Drugs & Alcohol

  • The legal drinking age genuinely varies by state, from 18 (Goa, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan) to as high as 25 (Delhi, Maharashtra), there's no single national number the way there is in most countries on this page.
  • Five states/union territories enforce total alcohol prohibition: Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Manipur (partial), and Lakshadweep. Possessing or consuming alcohol there can mean arrest without bail and prison sentences of 5–10 years, a dramatically different legal environment from the rest of the country.
  • Some states require tourists to obtain a short-term (often 30-day) liquor permit before drinking legally; this isn't automatic just because you're a foreign visitor.
  • Drug penalties under the NDPS Act are severe and enforcement is strict, including for cannabis, despite bhang (a cannabis-based drink) being culturally and, in some contexts, legally distinct and tolerated during specific festivals.

Carrying ID

  • Keep a government-issued photo ID (your passport) accessible; police can ask for age or identity proof at any time, and it's genuinely useful given how much local law varies state to state.

The Gotcha

India is the one country on this page where you can't give a single national answer for drinking age or even whether alcohol is legal at all, it depends entirely on which state you're in, and prohibition states carry genuinely serious criminal penalties (5-10 years, no bail) rather than a fine. Research the specific state you're visiting rather than assuming a rule that applied in one Indian city applies in the next.

Sources

This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.