Lok Sabha Question No. 2753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Easing Citizenship Norms
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, SANTOSH AHLAWAT, RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2753

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MAY, 2016/VAISAKHA 20, 1938 (SAKA)

## EASING CITIZENSHIP NORMS

2753. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  facilities  provided  by  the  Government  to  the  foreign nationals belonging to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh staying in India on long term visa;

(b) whether the Government has any plan for simplification of procedure for grant of Indian Citizenship to such persons; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): As  per  extant  instructions,  Pakistan  and  Bangladesh  nationals belonging  to  eligible  categories  are  granted  Long  Term  Visa  (LTV)  to stay in India. Government has been constantly reviewing the hardships being faced by the Pakistani nationals living in India on LTV, especially by those belonging to minority communities in Pakistan and steps are taken to streamline the procedures to facilitate their entry and stay in India form time to time. Various facilities provided to such Pakistani

## LS.US.Q.No. 2753 FOR 10.05.2016

nationals include grant of initial LTV for a period of 5 years at a time, allowing  children  of  such  Pakistan  nationals  to  take  admission  in schools,  colleges,  universities,  technical/  professional  institutions  etc. without any specific permission from the State Government/UT administration,  permitting  them  to  engage  in  employment  in  private sector i.e. excluding Government/Semi Government, local bodies, cooperative jobs etc., delegating powers to the State Governments/ UT Administrations  to  grant  a  maximum  of  two  additional  places  at  any given point of time in addition to the place of stay and for grant of No Objection to Return to India (NORI) to go to Pakistan/ third country etc. Bangladesh nationals who are granted LTV are also granted NORI to go to Bangladesh/ third country. Grant of various facilities to mitigate the hardships being faced by such Pakistani and Banladhesh nationals, after due consultation with all stakeholders, is a continuous process.

(b) & (c):   Relaxations have been provided form time to time especially for Pakistan/Afghanistan minority migrants for obtaining Indian citizenship. These include permission to file an a affidavit in lieu of the Renunciation Certificate, permission to submit application for citizenship in the off line mode by the eligible applicants who are facing

## LS.US.Q.No. 2753 FOR 10.05.2016

difficulty in applying in online system and permitting children of minority community who entered in India on the basis of their parents passport to apply  for  citizenship  without  passport  after  regularization  of  stay  in India.  Simplification  of  the  procedure  for  grant  of  Indian  citizenship  to such persons, after due consultation with all stakeholders, is a continuous process.

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