New rules for Indian citizenship have been introduced under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), benefiting religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, can now apply without needing a valid passport or visa. The government’s recent notification allows documents proving ancestry up to great-grandparents or a certificate from a local elected member instead of a visa. This eases the process for non-Muslim migrants in India, simplifying their citizenship applications.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, align with PM Narendra Modi’s commitment to granting citizenship to persecuted minorities. Home Minister Amit Shah praised the move, emphasizing the government’s commitment to the well-being of these communities. The CAA had previously sparked protests amid concerns about potential discrimination against Muslims, especially when combined with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).
CAA, Citizenship Rules, Passport Exemption, Visa-Free, Eased Citizenship