Parliament has approved the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which aims to regulate the immigration, entry, and stay of foreigners in India. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill by voice vote on Wednesday, following its approval in the Lok Sabha on March 27.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai defended the legislation, stating that it was necessary to unify existing legal provisions related to immigration. However, his remarks criticizing the previous Congress-led government and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for allegedly facilitating illegal immigration led to a strong reaction from the opposition. Congress, TMC, and other opposition parties staged a walkout in protest.
Rai asserted that the Bill was the result of a three-year study and that the Immigration Bureau, which already exists, will serve as the sole agency handling immigration matters, aligning India’s system with global practices.
“This Bill was necessary to strengthen our universities, education system, and economy to world-class standards,” Rai said, adding that the new framework will streamline immigration policies.
The Bill, however, has faced criticism from opposition parties, who had demanded it be sent to a parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny. Despite this, the government maintained that it was well-researched and ready for implementation.
With the Bill now cleared by both Houses of Parliament, the government has emphasized that India remains open to foreign nationals contributing to education and research, while also tightening immigration regulations to address concerns over illegal entry.