Lok Sabha Polls 2024 | CAA rules likely to be notified before code of conduct

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 | As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), passed by Parliament in December 2019 is expected to be formally announced within the next two weeks or thereabouts prior to the enforcement of the model code of conduct.

Sources also stated that "the regulations for the CAA could be announced anytime before the enforcement of the model code of conduct". There is a possibility that the code of conduct might be in place in March.

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As per an official, the CAA law can be put into action with the issuance of MHA notifications, allowing eligible individuals to obtain Indian citizenship.

The implementation of the CAA, which has been delayed for over four years, necessitates the formulation of its associated rules.

"The regulations are prepared, and an online portal is already set up for the entire process, which will be conducted digitally. Applicants will need to disclose the year of their entry into India without any travel documents. No additional documentation will be required from the applicants," stated the official.

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What is CAA? 

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a legislative amendment passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019. The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Under the Citizenship Act of 1955, Indian citizenship by registration or naturalization is granted to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in nine states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra.

It's notable that authorities in districts of Assam and West Bengal, both politically sensitive regions on this matter, have not been empowered with these citizenship-granting authorities thus far.

The Citizenship Amendment Act has been a contentious issue in Indian politics and society, sparking debates about identity, inclusivity, and the secular nature of the Indian state.

(With inputs from agencies)