| Syllabus: GS-II Subject: Polity Topic: Acts/Bills/Rules, Issue: Citizenship Rules 2024 |
Context: Union Home Ministry notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, enabling the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.
Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019:
- The act amended the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- Objective: To provide Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from three specific neighbouring countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
- Allows migrants from these three countries to apply for Indian citizenship through the naturalisation
- Cut-off date of entering India: before December 31, 2014.
| Naturalization refers to the legal process by which a foreign citizen becomes a citizen of a new country by meeting specific requirements imposed by the country. |
Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024:
- Applicants can seek Indian citizenship without producing a valid passport of these countries or a valid visa from India.
- Provide six types of documents and specify the “date of entry” into India.
- Produce an “eligibility certificate” issued by a “locally reputed community institution” confirming that he/she belongs to “Hindu/ Sikh/ Buddhist/ Jain/ Parsi/Christian community.
- An empowered committee, headed by the Director (Census Operations) will scrutinise all applications.
Criticisms:
- Violates Article 14 (equality): For discriminating based on religion as it excludes Muslims.
- Difficult to differentiate between illegal migrants and those persecuted.
- Other refugees, that include Tamils from Sri Lanka not covered under the Act.
