A new directive by the Union Home Ministry allows individuals belonging to minority communities -- specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians -- from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to be exempt from standard passport and travel document requirements. The provision applies to those who entered India by December 31, 2024, after having sought refuge from religious persecution.
The significant order, issued under the just-implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, will come as a relief to a large number of people, especially Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed over to India after 2014 and were worried about their fate.
"A person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered the country on or before December 31, 2024 without valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, or with valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, and the validity of such documents have expired" will be exempted from the rule of possessing a valid passport and visa, according to the directive issued by the MHA.
As per the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which came into force last year, members of these persecuted minorities who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, will be granted Indian citizenship. With the latest directive, the protection to these minorities has been extended by another ten years, ensuring they will not be penalised.
Reacting to the move, union minister Sukanta Majumdar said, "The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the cut-off date for entry into India for applying under CAA till 31st December 2024!"
"Grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri
@AmitShah ji and the Central Government for this historic decision," he added further.
(With PTI inputs)
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