Lok Sabha Question No. 3437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Difficulties in Obtaining Indian Citizenship
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3437

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  MARCH, 2021/ PHALGUNA 25, 1942 (SAKA)

DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

†3437.      SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Hindus of the neighbouring countries and the minorities of other  countries  are  facing  problem  and  incidents  of  discrimination  in getting Indian Citizenship;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  the  details  of  the  remedial  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (c): Migrants, including Hindus, of the neighboring countries and the minorities  of  other  countries  can  acquire  citizenship  of  India  as  per  the provisions  of  The  Citizenship  Act,  1955  and  rules  made  thereunder  on becoming eligible for the same.

For  speedy  disposal  of  citizenship  applications  of  migrants  belonging  to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan,  Pakistan and Bangladesh, Central Government, in December,

2016,  delegated  its  power  to  grant  citizenship  by  registration  under Section  5  and  by  naturalisation  under  Section  6  of  The  Citizenship  Act, 1955 to the Collectors of 16 Districts in 7 States and Home Secretaries of these 7 States where most of these migrants are residing. Vide notification dated 23.10.2018 this delegation of power has been extended till further orders.

To  facilitate  the  aforesaid  minority  migrants,  the  Citizenship  Rules, 2009 were simplified by notifying the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2016 on  23  December,  2016.  Through  this  amendment,  these  migrants  were facilitated by:-

- (a). Allowing them to make any declaration or submit any application regarding grant of Indian citizenship before Sub-Divisional Magistrate besides the District Collector.
- (b). Allowing them to be administered oath of allegiance to Indian Constitution  by  Sub-Divisional  Magistrates  also  besides  the  District Collectors, during processing of their application for grant of citizenship.
- (c). Reducing  fees  for  various  citizenship  services  which  ranged from Rs.250/- to Rs. 15,000/- to just Rs.100/- in case of legal migrants belonging to the aforesaid communities from the aforesaid countries.

All  eligible  foreigners,  including  aforesaid  migrants,  may  fill  applications for Indian citizenship in the online mode on the MHA website: 'https//indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in'.  End-to-end  processing  and  decision on  the  Citienship  applications  has  been  made  completely  online  since 2018.

Further to facilitate grant of  citizenship to migrants, belonging to Hindu, Sikh,  Buddhist,  Jain,  Parsi  and  Christian  communities  from  Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31.12.2014 and  who  have  been  exempted  by  the  Central  Government  by  or  under clause (C) of sub-section (2)  of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or  any  rule/order  made  thereunder,  the  Citizenship  Act,  1955  has  been amended vide the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which has came into force on 10.01.2020.

*******