New Immigration Bill Passed in India: What It Means
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On March 27, 2025, the Indian government passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament). The new law replaces two older laws — the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920.
Home Minister Amit Shah explained that the new law is meant to modernize how India deals with foreigners and immigration. He said the country needs a strong system to know who is entering and living in India. The bill includes better ways to track people from other countries and gives the government tools to take action if someone stays in India illegally.
Mr. Shah also said that while India respects all cultures and religions, it is not a “dharamshala” — meaning it can’t be a place where anyone can come and stay without rules.
The new law also talks about creating a national database of foreigners and allowing the use of technology for better monitoring.
This bill is part of India’s efforts to strengthen its borders and make immigration safer and more organized. It will now go to the Rajya Sabha (upper house) for further discussion.
