During the last three years 23,653 Bangladesh nationals have been deported from India. As per the available information, the following is the year-wise details of Bangladesh nationals deported from India during the last three years. The data for the current year has not been compiled.

The details of foreign nationals who were found to be overstaying as on 31.12.2011, country-wise, are as under:

The Foreigners Act of 1946 empowers the Central Government with powers to deport a foreign national under section 3(2) (c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.  These powers to identify and deport illegally staying foreign nationals have also been delegated to the State Governments/ UT Administrations.  Detection and deportation of such illegal immigrants is a continuous process. A revised procedure for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was communicated to the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations in November, 2009, which was partially modified in February, 2011. The procedure includes sending back there and then, the illegal immigrants who are intercepted at the border while entering India unauthorisedly. As and when any Bangladesh national is apprehended for staying illegally in India, he/she is deported back to Bangladesh.

As per the available data, there are 83,484 Bangladesh nationals living in India who claim to be refugees. Caste wise break-up of Bangladesh nationals who claim to be refugees residing in the country is not maintained by the Government.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been mandated to generate and issue a 12 digit unique identification numbers (Aadhaar) to all residents of India. Aadhaar is not a citizen identity card. It does not confer citizenship nor does it, by itself, confer right of citizenship.

The Minister of State in the Ministry Of External Affairs Smt. Preneet Kaur provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

YSK