The Centre has introduced changes to the citizenship application process under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), adding new documentation requirements for applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Under the revised rules, applicants will now have to provide details about their passport status, including whether they currently hold or previously held a passport issued by their home country. Authorities have also made it mandatory for successful applicants to surrender their foreign passports after receiving Indian citizenship.
Officials say the move is aimed at improving record-keeping and bringing greater clarity to the citizenship process. The changes are expected to help authorities maintain updated information and ensure smoother processing of applications.
The CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for eligible non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before the specified cut-off date. The law applies to communities including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.
The latest amendments are being seen as an effort to strengthen administrative procedures and tighten documentation requirements. The government has said the revised process is intended to make the system more streamlined and transparent.
The changes are expected to affect future applicants under the CAA framework, with authorities placing greater emphasis on documentation and compliance during the application process.
