CAA News: The Central Government has announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday. Under this, minorities from three neighboring countries will now be able to get Indian citizenship. They will have to apply on the online portal prepared by the Central Government. Eligible refugees will not need to provide any documents.
CAA News: Just before the Lok Sabha elections, the Central Government has issued the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2024. That means CAA has now been implemented in the entire country. With the implementation of this law, non-Muslim refugees (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians) from three neighboring countries Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will now be able to become Indian citizens. For this, these people will have to follow government guidelines and apply online for citizenship. However, there will be some important conditions. Like under CAA rules, it is mandatory to stay in India continuously for one year before applying. Know the answers to 10 questions regarding CAA…
Read the government notification
CAA was passed in Parliament in December 2019. Its rules have been notified after more than four years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released the form for CAA. Information about all the necessary documents and rules is given in it. On the other hand, protests against CAA have started in West Bengal, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam.
1. Who will get citizenship?
Citizenship will be given to such refugees who have come and settled in India before 31 December 2014. Applicants will have to state the year in which they entered India without a travel document. The day of arrival in India, visa or immigration stamp etc. will have to be provided to enter India.
2. How will the CAA system work?
Web portal has been made. The entire process is online. Will have to apply online. First the application will go to the District Committee, then it will send it to the Empowered Committee. The empowered committee will take the decision on citizenship. Its head will be Director (Census Operations). There will also be 7 other members. This will include IB, Foreign, Regional Registration Office, Post Office and State Information Officer.
3. What documents are required for citizenship under CAA?
To obtain Indian citizenship, 9 types of documents have been asked under Schedule- 1A in the online form. Whereas 20 types of documents will have to be given under Schedule-1B and affidavit under Schedule-1C. First of all it has to be said that they are non-Muslim refugees from these three countries. That means they are residents there. For this, passport, birth certificate, educational certificate, driving license, land related documents will have to be shown. Applicants can also apply for citizenship by showing Aadhaar card, driving license, ration card, birth certificate, PAN card, land documents, electricity and water bill, marriage certificate etc. issued by the Government of India.
4. What to do if there are no documents?
It has not been made necessary to have documents to fill the form. If anyone does not have any document then he can give the reason for the same. If there are any documents then information will have to be given. Apart from this, if you are settled in any state or want to settle there, then you can obtain the certificate of native as per the rules there.
5. What needs to be filled in the form?
In the online form, you have to mention the names of your parents or husband and how long you have been living in India. And where, from which country have they come? Where were you staying there? What work are you doing after coming to India? Which religion do you belong to?
6. Is there a separate form for married and unmarried?
There is a separate form for this on the web portal. If you have married an Indian after coming to India, then information about that will also have to be given. A separate form has also been given for children.
7. What will happen in case of criminal record?
If there is any criminal record then information about it will have to be given. If the government feels that granting citizenship to such a person could pose a threat, then his form can be cancelled.
8. Can someone’s citizenship be taken away?
No, there is no provision to take away anyone’s citizenship. That means there is no threat to anyone’s citizenship. Home Minister Amit Shah had also said in a statement that CAA is not a law to take away anyone’s citizenship. Under CAA, there is a provision to give citizenship to six non-Muslim communities who came from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.
9. How to obtain citizenship certificate?
After giving all the information in the form, its authenticity will have to be confirmed and signed. In case of any lie or fraud, the form can be canceled. Digital certificate will be issued after verification and satisfaction of the government. If the applicant wants a hard copy, that will also be provided. The certificate will be digitally signed or signed by the Chairman of the Empowered Committee. People who acquire citizenship by naturalization will be issued a digital certificate of naturalization by the Committee.
10. Will there be any conditions for citizenship?
- People wishing to get Indian citizenship must have resided in the country for at least 12 months before the date of application, only then will they be eligible to apply. Applicants will be eligible to obtain Indian citizenship only if they have spent at least six years in the country during the eight years immediately preceding these 12 months.
- Applicants will also have to submit a declaration that they are ‘irrevocably renouncing’ their existing citizenship and wish to make India their ‘permanent home’.
- Every application made by the applicant under sub-rule (1) shall contain a declaration to the effect that in the event of his application being accepted, his citizenship of that country will be irrevocably renounced and he will not make any claim thereto in future.
- The rules provide separate application forms for these sub-categories which are – Person of Indian Origin, Person married to an Indian citizen, Minor child of an Indian citizen, Person having Indian parents, Person who owns or One of his parents was a citizen of independent India, a person who is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder and a person who seeks citizenship by naturalization.
- Those seeking citizenship by naturalization must submit an affidavit confirming the truthfulness of the statements made in the application. Along with this, an affidavit of an Indian citizen testifying to the character of the applicant will also have to be submitted.
- The applicant must also submit a declaration that he has adequate knowledge of one of the languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- All accepted applicants will be required to take the Oath of Allegiance that as a citizen of India, they will ‘bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India’ established by law and that they will ‘faithfully obey the laws of India’ and discharge their duties. Will ‘complete’.
What will be the process for citizenship?
The designated officer will administer the oath of allegiance to the applicant. He will then sign the affidavit and forward it in electronic form to the Empowered Committee along with confirmation regarding verification of documents. If the applicant fails to appear in person to sign the application and take the oath of allegiance despite giving reasonable opportunity, the District Level Committee shall forward such application to the Empowered Committee to consider the refusal. The Empowered Committee may grant Indian citizenship to the applicant after being satisfied by the inquiry as to whether he is a fit and proper person to be registered or naturalized.
