Bill Proposing New Regulations for Immigrants and Foreigners Debated in Lower House
Strengthening National Security: The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025, recently passed in the Lok Sabha, aims to reinforce national security by regulating the activities of foreigners in India. The bill, introduced by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, seeks to streamline various services related to immigration and foreigners in the country [1].
The key provisions of the bill include mandatory registration of every foreigner crossing India’s borders, obligatory online reporting by hospitality establishments about foreigners using their services, and legal authority for Indian authorities to deny entry or exit of individuals perceived as national threats under Section 3. The bill also places the burden of proof on the person suspected to prove whether they are a foreigner, and imposes penalties of up to Rs. 5 lakh fine or 5 years imprisonment for foreigners attempting to cross the border without proper documentation (passport or visa) [1].
The government justifies these measures as necessary for protecting citizens and improving quality of national security against threats like drug cartels or hawala operations [1].
However, the bill has faced opposition at its introduction stage. Congress MP Manish Tewari voiced concerns that the bill violates multiple constitutional provisions and the principle of fundamental rights. Tewari suggested that the bill could be used by the government to deny entry to individuals not in agreement with the ruling dispensation's ideology [2].
TMC MP Saugata Roy also opposed the bill, expressing concern that it could prevent the inflow of talent from outside in various fields. The opposition's arguments, however, are not explicitly detailed in the available sources, and generally, such bills attract concerns over civil rights and potential abuse of authority [1][2].
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 corrects overlapping and duplicate provisions in prevailing laws governing immigration and foreigners in the country. The bill regulates the stay and movement of foreigners in India and their exit, which are currently managed by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) and state governments/Union territory administrations. The bill also grants electronic visas under seven categories to people from 167 countries [1].
Certain protected areas in India require foreigners to have special permits to travel, including multiple states in the northeastern region, the whole of Andaman and Nicobar, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan [1].
The bill also includes provisions for visa-on-arrival at six designated airports for nationals of three countries - Japan, South Korea, and the UAE (only for such UAE nationals who had earlier obtained e-visa or regular or paper visa for India) [1].
In summary, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 aims to strengthen national security by regulating foreigners’ movements, streamline various services related to immigration, and correct overlapping provisions in the existing laws governing immigration and foreigners in the country. However, the bill has faced opposition due to concerns over civil rights and potential abuse of authority.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Proposed Standardization of Food Labeling Laws Among Member States by the Commission
- Experimenting with Merz's Germany has stretched into an extended period of time, resembling a numerous three-month duration.
- Moderate discussions scheduled between U.S. President Trump and India's Prime Minister Modi next month, according to recent reports.
