On March 11, 2024, the Indian government made an announcement regarding the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). This development comes four years after the contentious law was initially passed, and it has significant implications for certain categories of migrants in India.
Here are the key points related to the implementation of the CAA:
- Purpose of CAA:
- The CAA aims to provide citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.
- The law specifically targets persecuted minorities from these countries, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians.
- Rules Issued:
- With the issuance of the CAA rules, the Modi government will now begin granting Indian nationality to the eligible non-Muslim migrants from the three countries.
- The rules enable these individuals to apply for Indian citizenship through a completely online mode, facilitated by a dedicated web portal.
- Background:
- The CAA was passed in December 2019 and received presidential assent. However, widespread protests erupted across various parts of the country against its provisions.
- Until now, the law could not be fully implemented because the rules had not been officially notified.
- The Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 now pave the way for eligible migrants to seek Indian citizenship.
Q: What was the purpose of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA)?
A) To provide citizenship to all migrants from neighboring countries
B) To grant Indian nationality to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan
C) To promote religious diversity in India
D) To restrict immigration from specific countries
Answer: B) To grant Indian nationality to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan
