The Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024, recently announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, pave the way for the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in 2019. Under the CAA, undocumented migrants from specific religious communities-Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Christian, and Jain-originating from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are eligible for citizenship. To apply, applicants must provide six types of documents, including birth certificates, tenancy records, identity papers, licenses, and school or educational certificates issued by government authorities in the respective countries. Applicants must obtain an eligibility certificate from a locally reputed community institution confirming their membership in one of the abovementioned communities. The application process is conducted online via the designated portal and mobile application, with all documents and photographs uploaded digitally. Security agencies conduct background checks on applicants before their cases are reviewed by an empowered committee at the district level, headed by the Director (Census Operations) in each State, and will include officers from the Intelligence Bureau, Post Master General, State or National Informatics Centre and a representative each from the Department of Home and Divisional Railway Manager will be the invitees. This comprehensive framework aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the citizenship application process.
