Heftier fines among bill's key provisions

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION CORRECTS OVERLAPPING AND DUPLICATE PROVISIONS IN PREVAILING LAWS

- Neeraj Chauhan

The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union government on March 11, was passed by Parliament on Wednesday after heated debate in both Houses, with the Centre calling it a historic legislation that is important for strengthening the security of the country and the Opposition calling it an unconstitutional bill that gives arbitrary powers to the authorities.

The new legislation corrects overlapping and duplicate provisions in prevailing laws and streamlines various process pertaining to the stay, entry and exit of foreigners in India. Once it comes into force after the President's assent, the new law will 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, 2000 that have so far governed various aspects related to foreigners in India and defined the powers of immigration authorities.