New Delhi, March 25 -- The Union Cabinet on Wednesday sanctioned a five-year extension for the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme, designed to interlink and optimise functions concerning immigration, visa processing, and the registration of foreign nationals in India.

Presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet approved the scheme's continuation from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, with a financial allocation of Rs.1,800 crore, an official statement said.

This renewal represents more than a "technical upgrade; it is a strategic transformation" reflecting the government's objective to facilitate global mobility through a premier immigration system, the report noted.

"After the recent enact...