Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Indian government has officially rolled out the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by Parliament in 2019. This act aims to grant citizenship to specific religious minority migrants from neighbouring countries.
To facilitate citizenship applications under CAA 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced the Indian Citizenship Online portal. This platform allows applicants to submit their requests entirely online.
Applicants can initiate the process by visiting the Indian Citizenship Online portal and selecting the "Submit Application" option. They are then required to provide personal details, including mobile number and email ID, and verify their identity through OTP authentication.
Applicants must submit various documents, including passports, birth certificates, and identity documents issued by relevant authorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan. These documents should verify their presence in India before December 31, 2014.
After completing the authentication process, applicants must answer questions regarding their background and residency status prior to 2014. The District Level Committee, led by the Designated Officer, will then review the applications for validity.
Successful applicants will be administered the oath of allegiance by the designated officer after document verification. The oath is then electronically forwarded to the Empowered Committee for further processing.
In cases where applicants are unable to attend the oath ceremony in person despite multiple opportunities, the District Level Committee may refer the matter to the Empowered Committee for consideration of refusal.
The government has clarified that the CAA does not impact the rights of Indian citizens and does not change the existing citizenship acquisition process for foreigners. Additionally, certain regions covered by the Sixth Schedule and Inner Line Permit system are excluded from the Act's provisions to safeguard indigenous populations.