The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 rules were notified: 12 Mar 2024

Why in news?

Citizenship Amendment Act rules were notified, four years after the law was passed.

The Citizenship Law:

• December 2019: Parliament passed an amendment to The Citizenship Act, 1955, to include a provision for grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities who entered India before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.
• The amendment relaxed the eligibility criteria for certain classes of migrants (on religious lines) from three neighbouring Muslim-majority countries. 

Exemptions in Northeast and Tribal Areas:

• Certain categories of areas, including tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, and areas protected by the ‘Inner Line’ system, were exempted from the purview of the CAA.

Citizenship Amendment Act Implementation:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 to enable the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in 2019.

Permissible Documents for Citizenship Application: 

• Applicants must provide documents such as birth certificate, tenancy records, identity papers, licenses, and educational certificates issued by government authorities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Eligibility Confirmation and Registration Process: 

• An “eligibility certificate” from a respected community institution is required to confirm the applicant’s membership in the specified communities.

Online Application and Processing: 

• All documents and photographs need to be uploaded online for processing.
• Background checks by security agencies will be conducted before applications are reviewed by an empowered committee at the district level.

Empowered Committees for Application Review: 

• Led by the Director (Census Operations) in each State, representatives from various agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and Post Master General.
• District-level committees, headed by the Senior Superintendent or Superintendent of Post, will scrutinize applications for citizenship.

Application Requirements for CAA Citizenship:

• Proof of Parentage: Provide parents’ date of birth evidence like passport or birth certificate.
• In the Absence of Passport: If the parents’ passport is not available, submit the applicant’s birth certificate with parents’ details.
• Deadline Proof: To prove entry before December 31, 2014, submit passport, visa, Census enumerator slip, PAN card, electricity bill, insurance policy.
• Validity of Documents: Documents issued by Indian authorities remain valid beyond expiry.

Naturalization Requirements:

• Affidavit: Submit an affidavit verifying application statements and an Indian citizen affidavit on the applicant’s character.
• Language Declaration: Declare adequate knowledge of one language from the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution by speaking, reading, or writing.