New Delhi, September 3, 2025:
In a landmark decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the cut-off date for Hindu refugees from Bangladesh to seek protection in India. As per the new order published in the Gazette of India, all Hindu refugees entering India from Bangladesh on or before December 31, 2024, will now be exempted from legal action for lacking valid travel documents or for overstaying.
Previously, the protection was limited only to those who had entered before December 31, 2014. With this ten-year extension, thousands of refugees who arrived in India after 2014 will now be eligible for relief.
This move also clears the path for these refugees to apply for Indian citizenship under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, a provision that was earlier restricted by the 2014 deadline.
Officials have confirmed that the order, issued under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, will immediately benefit persecuted minorities including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The notification marks a significant policy shift and is expected to have a wide social and political impact, especially in states bordering Bangladesh.
