The Citizenship Amendment Act Its Purpose and Provisions
The CAA 2019 has sparked significant discussion and disagreement following its approval and aims to make changes to the Citizenship Act of 1955. The suggested revisions aim to address the situation of specific illegal immigrant populations from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived in India by December 31, 2014. Granting Indian citizenship to these immigrants and reducing the required residence period under the Citizenship Act are the key provisions. Also, the legislation offers protection from ongoing legal actions related to the immigration or citizenship status of these immigrants. The revisions do not apply to the tribal regions of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, as well as the areas covered by "The Inner Line" scheme. The government's presentation of the statement of purpose and reasons highlights the historical background of migration from neighboring countries and the necessity of s...