The Union government on March 12 introduced in the Lok Sabha The and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which it said is aimed at strengthening India바카라s borders and streamlining the law governing immigration and foreigners.
The Bill repeals and replaces the Immigration (Carriers바카라 Liability) Act, 2000, and three pre-independence laws, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1936.
While introducing the bill, Minister of state (MoS) home affairs Nityanand Rai said, 바카라We are not bringing this law to stop anyone from coming to India바카라.
바카라More people are welcome in India, but they must adhere to the immigration law. The provisions of the law are important for national security바카라, Rai said. Since India is growing economically, the government is committed to providing facilities to ensure more tourists come here. But it is also the government바카라s responsibility to prioritise the security of the country바카라, he added.
The new bill puts the onus on educational and medical institutions, including hospitals and universities, as well as owners of private residences to inform the authorities about foreigners staying in their facility.
The new law obligates the carriers such as airlines and vessels to remove a passenger denied entry by the immigration officer and provide passenger and crew data to the authorities in advance. It carries a provision of up to Rs 5 lakh in fine for violating carriers.
Abolition of Four Existing Laws
The proposed legislation aims to replace four existing laws바카라 the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers바카라 Liability) Act, 2000. These laws currently regulate various aspects of foreigner-related matters in India and define the powers of immigration authorities.
The new legislation is being introduced to eliminate redundancy and overlap in laws dealing with similar subjects and to align with the Government of India's policy of simplifying legal frameworks.
Once enacted, the law will grant the central government powers to mandate the requirement of passports or other travel documents for individuals entering or exiting India and to regulate foreigner-related matters, including visa and registration requirements.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill highlights that these Acts are not only outdated, having originated before the Constitution, but were also enacted during extraordinary times such as the First and Second World Wars. It further points out the overlap in provisions and emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive and modern legal framework.
Bureau Of Immigration And Restrictions On Foreigners
The Bill would establish an overarching Bureau of Immigration (Section 5) with a Commissioner at its head, who will be assisted by Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, Foreigners Registration Officers, Chief Immigration Officers and other Immigration officers designated by the Centre. The Bureau will fall under the Centre and will be in charge of performing immigration functions such as regulating the entry and exit of foreigners along with any other functions that the Centre prescribes.
It would also empower the Central government to pass orders or directions regarding foreigners (Section 7) including:
- Requirements for foreigners to enter and depart India 바카라only at such times and by such route and at such port or place바카라, subject to any specified 바카라conditions on arrival바카라;
- Order that a foreigner shall not remain in India or in any 바카라specified area바카라 within India;
- Order that a foreigner shall 바카라remove himself to, and remain in바카라 a specified area within India, or reside in a particular place;
- Requiring them to present herself for examination to furnish information 바카라in such manner, at such time, as may be required바카라;
- Requiring them to furnish proof of identity;
- Requiring them to submit biometric information and handwriting/signature samples;
- Requiring them to submit to a medical examination;
- Prohibiting them from associating with 바카라persons of a specified description바카라;
- Prohibiting them from engaging in 바카라activities of a specified description바카라;
