Why in News?
The Kerala cabinet approved the Kerala nativity card bill 2026
Description:
Purpose and Administration:
- Purpose: To replace the single-use Nativity Certificate with a permanent, photo-affixed Nativity Card for accessing State services and fulfilling social requirements.
- Administration: Issued by the Tahsildar; records maintained at the Village Office. Appeals lie with the District Collector.
- The government has explicitly linked the card to addressing anxieties regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Eligibility: Who is a “Native”?
The Bill provides a specific two-tier definition for eligibility:
- Primary Tier: Any person born in Kerala who has not acquired foreign citizenship.
- Lineage Tier: Any person with a Kerala-born parent or ancestor (provided neither the ancestor nor the applicant has acquired foreign citizenship).
- Exceptions: Includes persons born outside Kerala due to their parents’ employment/livelihood, provided they remain Indian citizens.
- Disqualification: Relinquishing Indian citizenship automatically renders the card null and void.
Constitutional & Legal Analysis:
| Aspect | Legal Standing |
| Citizenship | Union Subject: Governed exclusively by Article 11 and the Citizenship Act, 1955. |
| Nativity/Domicile | State Subject: States can define “natives” to determine eligibility for local welfare, education quotas, and state-level jobs. |
| Conflict Zone | Critics argue the card blurs the line between a residency document and a National Identity Card, potentially infringing on federal powers under Section 14A of the Citizenship Act. |
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