MHA Notifies New Rules Granting Foreigners Tribunals Judicial Powers and Enhancing Biometric Surveillance
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, along with new Rules and Orders. This legislation replaces several colonial-era laws, including the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920. A significant change is granting Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam the powers of a first-class judicial magistrate, allowing them to issue arrest warrants. The rules also mandate the recording of biometric information for all foreigners and require educational institutions to report the academic performance and conduct of foreign students to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Key Points
- Foreigners Tribunals in Assam now hold the powers of a first-class judicial magistrate.
- The new law replaces the Passport Act of 1920 and the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939.
- Educational institutes must provide semester-wise reports on foreign students' academic performance and conduct.
- The rules provide a legal framework for recording biometric data of all foreigners entering or exiting India.
Exam Facts
- Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025
- Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920 (repealed)
- 100 FTs currently operational in Assam
- December 31, 2024 deadline for certain exemptions
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