NEW DELHI: The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, aimed at streamlining services related to immigration and foreigners, including their entry, exit and stay in the country was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with opposition parties dubbing it to be violative of constitutional provisions.
Rejecting suggestions that Parliament lacked the legislative competence to bring the bill, minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said the central government has all the rights under the Union list to bring legislations on the subject. He asserted that while tourists were welcome to come to India, it was the government’s responsibility to ensure peace and sovereignty of the nation remain intact.
Opposing the bill at the introduction stage, Congress MP Manish Tewari, while opposing the Bill said it is violative of multiple provisions of the Constitution and various laws. He said, the bill violates principle of fundamental rights and the government may use the provisions of the proposed law to deny entry to those who are not in sync with the ideology of the ruling dispensation of the day.
Veteran Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said the proposed law could prevent inflow of talent from outside in various fields.
In his remarks before formally introducing the bill, Rai said the draft law seeks to correct overlapping and duplicate provisions in prevailing laws governing immigration and foreigners in the country. The legislation is aimed at streamlining various services related to immigration and foreigners, including their entry, exit and stay in India. Entry, exit and stay in India is currently governed by Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and Foreigners Act, 1946.
The stay and movement of foreigners in India and their exit are regulated by the BoI and state governments and Union Territory administrations. According to existing laws, foreigners on long-term (more than 180 days) student, medical, research, employment, missionary and project visas are required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned, having jurisdiction over the place where the foreigner intends to stay, within 14 days of arrival. Pakistani nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival.
According to Union home ministry data, a total of 98,40,321 (98.40 lakh) foreigners visited India between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.