14 individuals granted citizenship under CAA

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued the first set of citizenship certificates to at least 14 applicants under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). “The certificates were handed over by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the national capital,” the MHA said in a press note. Notably, the Centre notified the CAA rules for implementation on March 11, 2024, as the law remained in the ‘dormant’ state for a couple of years.

The applications for citizenship under the CAA were moved from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India till December 31, 2014, on account of religious persecution. The Empowered Committee headed by Director (Census Operation) after due scrutiny of papers granted citizenship to 14 applicants.