Centre Likely to Announce Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Rules Today: Reports

New Delhi: The Centre is set to notify the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) today, according to recent reports. This announcement follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement last month, affirming that the implementation of the CAA, passed in 2019, will precede this year’s Lok Sabha elections after the issuance of relevant rules.

Enacted on December 11, 2019, the CAA had sparked widespread debate and protests across India. The Act amends the Citizenship Act of 1955, introducing an expedited pathway to Indian citizenship for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities. These individuals must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, fleeing religious persecution in their home countries.

Protests, such as those at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh and gatherings in Guwahati, Assam, garnered significant attention. However, these demonstrations waned during the Covid-induced restrictions and lockdowns.

Despite being passed in Parliament four years ago, the CAA remained unimplemented due to pending rules and finalization processes. Today’s expected announcement marks a significant development in the ongoing discourse surrounding this contentious legislation.