In March 2025, the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) passed two significant pieces of legislation: the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. Here’s an overview of each:
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
This bill seeks to amend the existing Citizenship Act to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim religious minorities—specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. Key points include:
- Exemptions: The bill does not apply to areas governed by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system and certain tribal areas in the Northeast, aiming to protect the cultural and social identity of indigenous communities.
- Parliamentary Approval: Introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah, the bill passed in the Lok Sabha with 293 votes in favor and 82 against.
- Opposition Concerns: Opposition parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposed the bill, arguing that it violates constitutional provisions by granting citizenship based on religion, thereby undermining the secular fabric of the nation.
Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
This legislation aims to streamline the management of immigration and the stay of foreigners in India by consolidating existing laws and introducing new provisions. Key aspects include:
- Enhanced Monitoring: The bill proposes comprehensive tracking of foreign visitors, including the purpose and duration of their stay, to bolster national security and administrative efficiency.
- Opposition Criticism: Opposition members raised concerns that the bill could infringe upon constitutional rights, potentially allowing the government to deny entry to individuals based on ideological grounds.
- Parliamentary Proceedings: Despite opposition objections, the bill was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha.
The Minister was replying to a debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 which was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. The Bill was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday even as several Opposition members demanded that it be sent to a select committee for scrutiny as it did not face any appeal process.
