Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on March 11, marking a significant step to curb the influx of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas into Bharat. The bill aims to modernise and consolidate Bharat’s immigration laws. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen immigration control, enhance security, and penalise violations.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- Strict Penalties for Fake Passports & Fraudulent Entry: Up to 7 years of imprisonment for individuals using fake passports or facilitating fraudulent entry into Bharat.
- Burden of Proof on Individuals: Those suspected of being illegal foreigners must prove their nationality to stay in the country.
- Empowered Immigration Officers: Immigration authorities will have the power to arrest individuals without a warrant if they are found violating entry regulations.
- Responsibility of Transport Carriers: Airlines, shipping, and transport companies must remove foreigners denied entry into Bharat.
- Heavy Penalties on Transporters: Carriers bringing individuals without valid travel documents will face fines between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Failure to pay may result in seisure or detention of the carrier.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology Chairman Nishikant Dubey and BJP MP Anil Baluni will table the sixth Report on action taken by the government on the observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Fifty-sixth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Regulation of Cable Television in Bharat’ relating to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Additionally, they will present the seventh Report on action taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Fifty-fourth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Digital Payment and Online Security Measures for Data Protection’ relating to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
They will also lay the Statements showing further action taken by the Government on the following reports of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (2024-25) in Lok Sabha.
They will also present the fifty-third report on action taken by the government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Forty-seventh Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Review of functioning of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)’ relating to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
They will also present the fifty-fifth report on action taken by the government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Forty-eighth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Citizens Data Security and Privacy’ of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
On March 10, Parliament passed the Railways (Amendment) Bill and the Lok Sabha passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024.
The Railways (Amendment) Bill is aimed at streamlining and modernising railway operations in Bharat while the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024 aims to bring various provisions in line with modern legislations in order to facilitate simplification and ease of understanding while retaining substantive aspects of the existing law.
The second part of budget session of Parliament began on March 10 and will continue till April 4.
