Introduction of CAA
On Monday, the Narendra Modi administration officially released the regulations for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), just days before the initiation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) preceding the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Aim of the Citizenship Amendment Act
The legislation aims to grant citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis who migrated to India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on social media platform X that PM Modi had fulfilled another commitment by notifying the rules, thereby paving the way for migrants from neighboring nations to attain citizenship in India.
About the Citizenship Amendment Act
The CAA amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to extend Indian citizenship to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in their home countries.
Indian citizenship will be granted to immigrants who have resided in India for at least one year and five of the last 14 years, compared to the previous requirement of 11 years for naturalization.
Exemptions and Provisions
Tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, as well as certain districts within them, are exempted from the Act.
Background and Controversies
The CAA was passed in December 2019 and subsequently received Presidential assent. However, it faced protests nationwide, with many opposition parties denouncing it as discriminatory. The government, on the other hand, maintained that it is a legitimate law to be enforced.
Implementation Mechanism
Following Monday’s announcement, the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that applications would be submitted online via a designated web portal.
Composition of Committees
An empowered committee will be formed in each state or union territory to oversee citizenship applications under the CAA. These committees will be led by the Director of Census Operations and include various members from relevant government bodies.
District-level panels will also be established to facilitate the application process, with designated officers overseeing operations and inviting relevant stakeholders for participation.
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