Lok Sabha passes immigration bill to replace four pre-independence laws
This story was originally published at 19:25 IST on 27 March 2025
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NEW DELHI – The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 seeking to regulate immigration, entry, and stay of foreigners in India. The bill seeks to modernise and consolidate the existing legal framework by replacing four outdated, pre-independence era laws--the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000.
The bill, while proposing to streamline immigration procedures, imposes stricter penalties on foreigners who violate entry and stay conditions. It places the burden of proving legal status on individuals rather than the state.
The bill empowers police officers not below the rank of a head constable to arrest without warrant those persons entering India without passports. Under the 1920 Act a police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector was only empowered to arrest without warrant persons entering India without passports.
Under the new law, any foreign national posing a threat to national security, sovereignty, or integrity will be denied entry into India. It also proposes mandatory registration for foreigners upon arrival, restricting their movement, name changes, and access to protected or restricted areas. Additionally, institutions such as educational establishments, hospitals, and nursing homes will be required to report foreign nationals to immigration authorities.
"The proposed legislation is to be enacted with a view to confer upon the Central Government certain powers to provide for requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering into and exiting from India and for regulating matters related to foreigners including requirement of visa and registration and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto," Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah said in the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.
"The proposed legislation is being enacted to avoid multiplicity and overlapping of laws on the same or related subject and to comply with the Government of India's policy of simplification of laws," Shah said. The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on Mar. 11. End
Reported by Shahid K. Abbas
Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury
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