The Centre has extended the cut-off date for entry under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to December 31, 2024, providing additional relief to persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The CAA, enacted in 2019, offers a fast-track to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India due to religious persecution. The law originally set December 31, 2014, as the deadline for eligibility.
With the new extension, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said applicants now have more time to seek citizenship through the online portal. However, critics continue to oppose the legislation, arguing that it excludes Muslims and undermines India’s secular principles.
