By Neha Yadav
Published Mar 12, 2024

Hindustan Times
In Focus

Photo Credits: ANI

8 points to understand Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

The Central government notified the rules for Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) on March 11, 2024. Union home minister Amit Shah said the new law passed in 2019 will be implemented before the Lok Sabha elections.

Here are the key things you need to know about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The CAA amends the Citizenship Act of 1955, providing a medium for citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, before December 31, 2014.

According to the 2019 amendment of the act, migrants who entered India before December 31, 2014, and had suffered "religious persecution or fear or religious persecution" in the country of their origin will be eligible for citizenship.

The amendment also relaxed the residence requirement for the citizenship of migrants from 12 years to just six.

According to the Intelligence Bureau report on CAA, there will be over 30,000 immediate beneficiaries from the act.

As per the rules notified by the government, eligible individuals can apply for citizenship online.

Documents required while applying

An affidavit verifying the correctness of the statements made in the application along with an affidavit from an Indian citizen testifying the character of the applicant.

A declaration from the applicant that they have adequate knowledge of one of the languages as specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

The applicant should also carry a declaration saying the citizenship of their country shall stand renounced irrevocably in the event of his application being approved.