The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 is a legislation passed by the Parliament of India in 2019 and adopted in 2024 by the notification. It amends the Citizenship Act of 1955, which regulates who may acquire Indian citizenship and how. Let us now learn what has been amended and what are the provisions added as part of CAA.
The union government of India issued notification implementing CAA in the country on 11th March 2024
The important provisions of the CAA 2019 are:
1. Eligibility for Citizenship: The Citizenship Amendment Act provides a path to Indian citizenship for undocumented immigrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. These individuals must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
2. Exclusion for Muslims: Notably, the CAA does not include Muslims as eligible beneficiaries who fall under point number 1 above. Critics argue that this exclusion violates the principle of secularism enshrined in the Indian constitution and is a discrimination against Muslims.
3. Religious Persecution in neighbourhood: The CAA is based on the logic that members of these religious minorities in other countries face Ill treatment or discrimination in the mentioned countries due to their religious beliefs, making them eligible for expedited citizenship in India.
4. Amendment of Naturalization Criteria: The CAA amends the naturalization process by reducing the residency requirement from 11 years to 5 years for these specific groups of immigrants.
5. Controversy and Protests: The CAA has been highly controversial, sparking protests across India. Critics argue that it is discriminatory and violates the secular principles of the Indian constitution. They also express concerns about its potential to marginalize Muslim communities.
The government, however, argues that the CAA is a humanitarian gesture aimed at providing refuge to persecuted religious minorities from neighboring countries. Despite the controversy, the CAA remains in effect, although its implementation and enforcement was on hold for a few years, the government of India finally implemented it through a notification issued on 11th March 2024.
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