Lok Sabha Approves Bill to Consolidate and Update Immigration Laws

New Delhi, March 27, 2025:T he Lok Sabha today approved the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, a move aimed at consolidating and updating India’s immigration laws. The bill was presented in the House by Junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also spoke during a debate on the bill.

The bill aims to replace four archaic laws that currently regulate immigration and registration of foreigners in India. They are the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Foreigners Act, 1946; and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000. They are now regarded as outdated and piecemeal, unable to tackle contemporary issues in immigration control.

The main aim of the new bill is to simplify and streamline immigration processes and improve national security and boost economic growth as well as tourism. Minister Amit Shah reiterated that the bill would enable greater tracking and monitoring of foreigners in India, especially those who stay beyond the duration of their visas or enter the country illegally. Shah further highlighted that the bill would put an end to illegal immigration and tighten the screening process of those who enter India with ill intentions.

Amit Shah demystified that India is open to those who enter to give a positive input into its development, but he asserted that people with malicious intentions, like the Rohingya refugees and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, will be met with robust action. “This bill will ensure strict actions against those who come to disrupt our country’s peace and security,” he claimed.

The bill intends to grant the central government stronger powers to regulate areas visited by foreigners and direct premises to be closed down or restricted in accordance with defined conditions. The bill also aims to confer more authority over the movement of foreign nationals in India, ensuring that those entering India are doing so for legitimate reasons and within the prescribed time limits.

Emphasizing the significance of the bill in protecting national security, Shah said that the legislation would be a key measure to counter illegal activities like drug running, arms smuggling, and economic subversion. “From a security perspective, this law will be a valuable tool to combat infiltrators and elements attempting to do harm to India from within,” Shah said.

The bill is also intended to promote India’s attractiveness as a destination for business, tourism, and education. By making sure that foreign nationals who come to India are adequately documented and their activities tracked, the law will further enhance the country’s image as a secure, friendly nation for international visitors and investors.

Although the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 deals with issues of immigration, it is worth mentioning that the bill does not deal with citizenship issues. The bill is strictly focused on enhancing the regulation of foreign nationals in India.

In summary, the bill represents a significant move towards establishing a streamlined, modernized system of immigration control that responds to national security issues while promoting the development of the country and its international engagement.