Lok Sabha Passes Immigration And Foreigners Bill 2025; Opposition Calls For JPC Scrutiny

In a significant legislative move, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizing its importance in enhancing national security, boosting the economy, and streamlining immigration services.

Addressing the House, Shah stated that the bill would facilitate India’s global integration by promoting manufacturing, trade, education, and business investments while ensuring that security remains uncompromised.

Key Features of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025

The new legislation aims to create a comprehensive framework for monitoring and managing foreigners visiting India. Some of its key provisions include:

• Strengthening security protocols to identify and track individuals entering the country.
• Encouraging foreign investments and business opportunities while maintaining strict vigilance.
• Boosting the education sector by enabling global recognition of Indian universities.
• Enhancing immigration services by streamlining visa processes and foreigner registrations.
• Real-time data collection on every foreign visitor’s purpose and duration of stay in India.

“This bill is not just about immigration—it is interconnected with multiple aspects of national security, trade, and education. It will ensure that we have a robust system to track every foreign individual who visits India,” Shah asserted during the debate.

Opposition Demands JPC Scrutiny

Despite the government’s strong push for the bill, the Opposition parties raised concerns, alleging that certain provisions grant excessive powers to immigration authorities. They demanded that the bill be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny.

Opposition MPs argued that arbitrary powers could lead to harassment and discrimination, particularly in cases involving genuine visitors. They called for more transparency and safeguards to ensure that the law is not misused.

Several amendments proposed by the Opposition were, however, negated by a voice vote, leading to the bill’s smooth passage in the Lower House.

What’s Next?

With the Lok Sabha giving its nod, the bill will now move to the Rajya Sabha for further discussions and approval. If passed there, it will become a law, replacing existing outdated immigration policies.

This landmark legislation is expected to reshape India’s foreign relations, business climate, and education sector, while reinforcing national security. However, how effectively it balances security with human rights and economic growth remains to be seen in the days ahead.

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Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.