In New Delhi, on Wednesday, the inaugural issuance of citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) marked a significant milestone. Fourteen individuals received these certificates, initiating the process of conferring Indian nationality upon persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Union Home Secretary, personally presented the certificates to the recipients following the completion of their online applications through a dedicated portal, as confirmed by an official spokesperson.
Enacted in December 2019, the CAA aims to provide Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. This includes individuals from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities.
Although the CAA received presidential assent following its enactment, the regulations governing the grant of Indian citizenship were only issued on March 11 of this year, after a delay of over four years.
