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.
