In a significant development following the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, the first batch of citizenship certificates was issued today. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally handed over these certificates to select applicants in New Delhi.
Congratulating the recipients, Secretary Bhalla underscored the key provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 during an interactive session attended by senior officials, including the Secretary Posts, Director (IB), and Registrar General of India.
The Government of India officially announced the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on March 11, 2024. These rules outline the application process, including the form submission, the role of District Level Committees (DLCs) in processing applications, and the final grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committees (ECs).
Under these rules, individuals belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who entered India prior to December 31, 2014, due to persecution on religious grounds or the fear thereof, are eligible to apply for citizenship.
The District Level Committees (DLCs), headed by designated officers, have conducted thorough document verification and administered the oath of allegiance to eligible applicants. Subsequently, the DLCs have forwarded the applications to the State Level Empowered Committees, chaired by the Director (Census Operation).
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
Utilizing the online portal for processing, the Empowered Committee in Delhi, led by the Director (Census Operation), meticulously scrutinized the applications. Following due diligence, citizenship was granted to 14 applicants, with the Director (Census Operation) personally presenting them with their certificates.
Also Read | FNT arrangement will be above autonomous council, below UT: ENPO