Wed Sep 03 12:08:03 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The article from The Hindu, published on September 3, 2025, reports on a new order issued under the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025 that provides relief to minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan seeking refuge in India. Specifically, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India before December 31, 2024, due to religious persecution are now exempt from the requirement of possessing valid travel documents. This order, which stems from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) enacted last year, aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014, and provides a pathway for those who arrived later, but before December 31, 2024, to remain in the country.

**News Article:**

**India Grants Relief to Persecuted Minorities Under New Immigration Order**

**New Delhi, September 3, 2025:** In a significant move aimed at providing refuge to persecuted minorities, the Indian government has issued a new order under the recently implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025. The order provides immediate relief to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who sought shelter in India before December 31, 2024, due to religious persecution.

The order exempts these individuals from the necessity of possessing valid passports or travel documents, regardless of whether they initially entered India with or without such documentation. This measure is directly linked to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which came into effect last year, aiming to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014.

“This order will provide much-needed reassurance for many individuals, particularly Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed the border after 2014 and had concerns about their legal status,” stated a source from the Union Home Ministry.

The implementation of the CAA has been closely monitored, with empowered committees currently conducting interviews for citizenship applications. This new order clarifies the legal status of individuals who arrived after the CAA’s initial cutoff date, ensuring that they can remain in India without fear of deportation. The move is expected to be welcomed by human rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups.

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