CURRENT AFFAIRS

Citizenship Amendment Act CAA–Implementation and Protests

Introduction

India's citizenship rules were changed dramatically by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in December 2019. Presented by the Indian government, the CAA seeks to offer persecuted groups from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan a path to Indian citizenship. But the Act has caused much controversy, legal attention, and public protests, bringing up doubts regarding its constitutionality and societal effect.

What is the CAA?

The CAA modifies the Citizenship Act of 1955 to let Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian immigrants from the said three nations seek Indian citizenship. Religious persecution caused these people to have entered India no later than December 31, 2014.

Main Principles:

Applicable only to nonMuslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Decreases the citizenship residency requirement from 11 years to 5 years.
Seek to shield religious minorities running from persecution.

Why did the CAA begin?

The government said the statute is a humanitarian action meant to offer shelter to minorities under religious persecution in nearby Islamic nations. Proponents claim it rights past wrongs and honors India's long-established tradition of providing refuge.

Implementing the CAA

Following passage in Parliament in December 2019, the CAA experienced implementation delays mostly caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and legal challenges. Still, the Indian government officially declared the requirements for the enforcement in March 2024, therefore opening the door for qualified applicants to seek citizenship.

How to Carry Out Implementation:

Launched a digital portal for citizenship applications.
For candidates, documentation demands were clearly stated.
With state governments helping with verification, central government monitoring.

Public Opposition and Demonstration

Led by students, civil rights organizations, and political parties, the CAA set off widespread demonstrations all across India. Critics contend the Act is discriminatory since it excludes Muslims and offends the secularism of the Indian Constitution.

Key Issues:

Violation of Article 14: Detractors say the Act weakens equality before the law.
Fear of NRC (National Register of Citizens): Opponents worry it could make many Indian Muslims stateless when paired with the NRC.
Effect on Assam and Northeast India: In states like Assam, there is worry that the Act violates the 1985 Assam Accord, which aimed to deport all unlawful immigrants independent of religion.

Government Reaction

The government has repeatedly defended the Act, saying it does not impact Indian people including Muslims. Furthermore stressed was the fact that the CAA is about include those needing protection, not about excluding any community.

To address concerns, the government began outreach initiatives and awareness efforts clarifying the goals and breadth of the law.

Legal Disputes

Challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA, several appeals have been submitted in the Supreme Court of India. Although the Court has not yet reached a final decision, the result will have long-lasting effects on Indian citizenship and constitutional interpretation.

Post Date: 30-06-2025