The meeting, attended by delegates from across India and abroad, was inaugurated by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and current Member of Parliament, Jagdambika Pal. The event witnessed participation from representatives of the Nepal Press Union and the Bangladesh Press Union, strengthening international solidarity among journalists. 

Pal assured that he would bring the concerns raised during the meeting to Parliament for discussion.

In his inaugural speech, Jagdambika Pal expressed his strong support for the IJU’s demands and reiterated that the issues raised during the NEC meeting would be presented in Parliament. Pal, a Member of Parliament from the BJP, assured the attendees that he would work towards addressing these concerns at the highest legislative levels.

“Journalists play an essential role in a democracy, and their safety and well-being should always be prioritized. I will make sure these critical issues are brought to Parliament,” he assured.

At the heart of the discussions was the demand for a Journalists’ Safety Law, designed to provide stronger protection against violence and intimidation faced by reporters. The IJU leadership pointed out the increasing number of attacks on journalists, especially those reporting on sensitive issues, and emphasized the need for legal safeguards. Additionally, the union stressed the urgency of a uniform pension scheme for journalists, advocating for a consistent and reliable financial security framework for the profession.

The meeting also raised concerns about the impact of India’s digital laws, which, according to the IJU, have become increasingly repressive. The union called for amendments to these laws, citing their potential to stifle press freedom and curtail the rights of journalists to report freely, without fear of surveillance, punishment, or censorship.

In his presidential address, Geethartha Pathak, IJU President, stressed the critical importance of defending journalism, free speech, and the core values of democracy. He acknowledged the growing challenges faced by the journalism community in India, especially under increasing pressure from various political and social forces. Pathak highlighted that despite the threats, journalists cannot and should not be silenced.

“Journalism in India is under siege. However, our commitment to truth, democracy, and justice must remain stronger than the pressures we face. Let’s leave this meeting with renewed determination – to protect journalism, to defend free speech, and to strengthen our union,” said Pathak. He reaffirmed the IJU’s mission to continue being the voice of journalists and the conscience of democracy in India.

Pathak also addressed the evolving media landscape, urging journalists to embrace new technologies, including digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI), while adhering to ethical standards, credibility, and public trust. He acknowledged the opportunities that AI presents for data analysis, investigative reporting, and content automation but also pointed out the challenges it brings, including the risk of job losses, ethical dilemmas, and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.

“The digital era offers great opportunities, but it also presents new challenges. AI can enhance journalism, but it must not come at the cost of ethics or the truth,” Pathak added, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that technological advancements do not compromise journalistic integrity.

A Roadmap for the Future

Pathak outlined a detailed one-year roadmap for the IJU, which includes several initiatives aimed at strengthening the union and safeguarding the rights of journalists. Key proposals include:

• National Legal Aid Cell: Establishing a dedicated legal cell to assist journalists facing police cases or harassment.

• Safety Helpline: Launching a safety helpline to provide immediate assistance for journalists under attack or threat.

• Capacity Building and Training: Providing skills training for journalists, especially in areas like digital reporting and investigative journalism.

• International Advocacy Partnerships: Building solidarity with international media organizations like the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

• Journalist Protection Bill: Continuing to lobby for the passage of the Journalist Protection Bill, which remains pending in Parliament.

• Youth Recruitment and Digital Engagement: Encouraging affiliates to recruit younger journalists, particularly those skilled in digital journalism, and to create state-level solidarity funds to assist distressed journalists.

• Special Campaigns: Launching campaigns focused on critical issues like climate journalism, combating fake news, and protecting democratic rights.

Global Solidarity and Advocacy

IJU Secretary-General Sabina Inderjeet voiced strong support for global journalistic solidarity, particularly highlighting the plight of Palestinian journalists who have faced violence during the Israel-Gaza conflict. She expressed deep concern over the growing attacks on journalists who are critical of the ruling government in India.

She also pointed out that journalists globally, including those in conflict zones, should not be silenced, and that global advocacy is needed to stand up for press freedom and the safety of journalists everywhere. “We need to be proactive in raising our voices against the impunity with which journalists are attacked — both in India and globally,” Sabina said, calling on IJU members to take action.

The two-day IJU NEC meeting in Siddharth Nagar concluded with a renewed commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and rights of journalists across India. As the media landscape evolves with new technological advances, the IJU remains determined to navigate these changes while safeguarding the foundational principles of journalism.

With the rise of digital platforms and AI, alongside increasing threats to press freedom, the need for a strong, united response from both national and international journalist organizations has never been greater. The road ahead for the IJU will involve both advocacy for legislative reform and the strengthening of journalistic ethics and solidarity within the profession.

The updated order, effective from September 2025, extends the deadline for persecuted minorities seeking refuge in India from these neighboring countries, allowing them to stay without valid documents. Initially, the CAA, which became law in 2019, applied to individuals who entered India by December 31, 2014, but the recent extension to December 31, 2024, addresses the ongoing influx of refugees fleeing religious persecution. This change offers a lifeline, particularly for many Hindus from Pakistan, who have been residing in India since 2015 but lacked the documentation to regularize their stay.

The amended law allows individuals from these minority communities who arrived in India without valid documents — or whose documents have expired — to apply for citizenship under the CAA. The key criteria for the exemption include being persecuted or fearing religious persecution in their countries of origin. The new measure addresses concerns from many who arrived post-2014 and had feared being left in legal limbo, particularly those unable to obtain or renew essential travel documents due to political instability or lack of consular support from their home countries.

In a significant shift from the original cut-off date of December 31, 2014, the MHA’s decision marks a decade-long extension. This move comes after appeals from various refugee organizations and minority rights bodies that argued the original deadline did not account for the continued migration of persecuted communities. Notably, Hindus from Pakistan have been among the most vocal in seeking this extension, given their precarious position in Pakistan’s religious landscape.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament in 2019, sought to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslim refugees who had fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to escape religious persecution. Under the CAA, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians were granted an expedited path to citizenship, but Muslims were notably excluded from the provision, sparking widespread debate and controversy.

The extension to December 31, 2024, also responds to the challenges posed by the ongoing refugee crisis. Cross-border migration, particularly in the context of religious persecution, has been a long-standing issue. Many of those seeking shelter in India did so with expired documents or without any formal travel papers. As a result, the MHA’s recent move to waive the requirement for valid documentation aims to address the humanitarian aspect of the crisis, providing much-needed clarity and protection for displaced individuals.

However, the CAA continues to face significant opposition, especially in India’s northeastern states, where the law has fueled fears of demographic change. Critics argue that the law’s exclusion of Muslims violates the secular principles enshrined in India’s Constitution. The law has been challenged in the Supreme Court for its constitutionality, with opponents claiming it discriminates against Muslims, including those who face religious persecution in the countries from which they are fleeing, such as the Ahmadiyyas and Shias in Pakistan and the Hazaras in Afghanistan.

Protests against the CAA erupted across India in 2019, with large demonstrations continuing in 2024 when the rules for implementing the law were finalized. Opposition parties and civil society groups have expressed concerns that the CAA, when coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), could render Indian Muslims vulnerable to losing their citizenship status, while non-Muslims excluded from the NRC would be able to reclaim citizenship under the CAA.

The controversial nature of the law has also led to concerns regarding its impact on the Assam Accord of 1985, which set a cut-off date for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants in Assam, regardless of their religion. Critics argue that the CAA could undermine the Assam Accord, particularly in light of concerns that the law could bring large numbers of migrants to the region, changing its demographic composition.

In response to these concerns, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that only three individuals in the state have been granted citizenship under the CAA so far, highlighting that the process is ongoing, with nine more applications under consideration. Sarma emphasized that the law, as it stands, would not be implemented indiscriminately, and applicants must go through a rigorous verification process.

While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended the CAA, asserting that it provides shelter to persecuted minorities, the law remains highly contentious. Proponents of the Act argue that it is a necessary measure to protect the religious minorities facing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, countries where Islam is the state religion and religious minorities are often marginalized.

The CAA’s critics, however, point out that the law fails to address the plight of Muslim minorities in these countries, particularly the Shia, Ahmadiyya, and Hazaras in Pakistan, and the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, who also face severe persecution. The exclusion of Muslims from the CAA has led to accusations of religious discrimination and a violation of India’s secular ethos.

The government, on its part, has stated that the CAA does not affect the citizenship of any Indian citizen and is solely intended to provide protection to religious minorities who have been persecuted for their faith. The MHA has clarified that the law’s provisions are designed to address the needs of communities facing genuine religious persecution, with a particular focus on minorities from neighboring Islamic-majority countries.

The implementation of the CAA, particularly in the context of the extended deadline and its implications for India’s demographic composition, continues to be a subject of intense debate. As the legal challenges against the law continue to unfold, the future of the CAA and its impact on India’s secular fabric remains uncertain. For now, the latest order from the Ministry of Home Affairs provides a crucial lifeline to many individuals who have sought refuge in India but were left without a clear path to citizenship.

The members of the naval, military, or air forces of India entering or exiting India on duty, along with the family members of any such person when accompanying them on a government transport, will also not be required to carry a passport or visa, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) following the enforcement of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

The requirement of a valid passport or other valid travel documents, and a valid visa for entry into, stay in, and exit from India shall not apply if “a citizen of India is entering India by land or air over the Nepalese or Bhutanese frontier, a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan is entering India by land or air over the Nepal or Bhutan border, or if they possess a valid passport while entering or exiting India from or to a place other than Nepal or Bhutan, but not from China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan,” the MHA said.

The provision is also applicable to Tibetans who have already entered India and are staying in the country, or entering India if they have registered with the registration officers concerned and obtained certificates of registration. This applies to those who entered India after 1959 but before May 30, 2003, on the Special Entry Permit issued by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, or those who entered India after May 30, 2003, till the date of the Act coming into force, on the new Special Entry Permit issued by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu through the immigration post on the Indo-Nepal border, as designated by the Centre.

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 whose validity has expired, will be exempted from the rule of possessing a valid passport and visa.

The rule will also not apply to registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India by January 9, 2015.