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. Photo- PTI 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. Photo- PTI

The Union government on March 12 introduced in the Lok Sabha The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025cfgrupopg, which it said is aimed at strengthening India’s borders and streamlining the law governing immigration and foreigners.

The Bill repeals and replaces the Immigration (Carriers’ 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, “We are not bringing this law to stop anyone from coming to India”.

“More people are welcome in India, but they must adhere to the immigration law. The provisions of the law are important for national security”, 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 government’s responsibility to prioritise the security of the country”, 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 laws— the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act,betef casino 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

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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 “only at such times and by such route and at such port or place”, subject to any specified “conditions on arrival”;

- Order that a foreigner shall not remain in India or in any “specified area” within India;

- Order that a foreigner shall “remove himself to, and remain in” a specified area within India, or reside in a particular place;

- Requiring them to present herself for examination to furnish information “in such manner, at such time, as may be required”;

- 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 “persons of a specified description”;

- Prohibiting them from engaging in “activities of a specified description”;

New Zealand Women Squad: Sophie Devine(c), Suzie Bates, Isabella Gaze(w), Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas, Eden Carson, Molly Penfold, Amelia Kerr, Leigh Kasperek

Earlier in the daycfgrupopg, Bangladesh skipper Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl against India given the overcast conditions in Chennai on Thursday.