India Eases Stay Norms For Minorities From Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh Who Entered By Dec 2024

The Ministry of Home Affairs, through a notification issued on Wednesday, eased the stay norms for persecuted religious minorities who entered India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Such persons, who entered India on or before Dec. 31, 2024, will be allowed to stay even without valid documents, the MHA notification clarified.

"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 requirement of holding a valid passport, as per the notification.

"In a landmark decision, the Govt of India has allowed minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh & Pakistan — Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi & Christian — who entered India on/before 31st Dec 2024 due to religious persecution, to stay even without valid documents. A true step towards justice & humanity! (sic)," said Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region, in a post on X.