The Indian government, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has officially notified the long-awaited Citizenship Amendment Rules, marking a significant step towards facilitating citizenship for minorities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
This move comes as a breath of fresh air for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, and Parsi communities who sought refuge in India on or before December 31, 2014.
In a bid to streamline the application and processing for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the government is exploring the implementation of an online system.
The CAA, which came into effect in January 2020, faced implementation delays due to the absence of notified rules, sparking widespread debates and criticisms over its perceived discriminatory nature.
The newly introduced rules have eased the residency requirements for eligible immigrants, reducing the mandatory stay in India from eleven to five years.
This significant amendment is seen as a gesture of goodwill towards immigrants who have made India their home, seeking solace and a new beginning.
Eligibility criteria under the new rules are clearly defined, encompassing individuals of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens, minor children of Indian citizens, individuals whose parents are registered as Indian citizens, and Overseas Citizen of India Cardholders.
The process for applying for citizenship by naturalization has been meticulously outlined, involving the submission of Form VIIIA, affidavits verifying the applicant’s character and linguistic proficiency in one of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
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Applications are to be submitted electronically, with a structured verification process in place involving District Level Committees and a Designated Officer. The process includes an oath of allegiance and a renunciation declaration, underscoring the commitment required from applicants towards their new homeland.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, lies at the heart of this development, aimed at providing a sanctuary for persecuted minorities from neighboring Muslim-majority countries. However, the exclusion of Muslim immigrants has sparked nationwide protests and legal challenges, questioning the Act’s alignment with India’s constitutional values of equality and secularism.
