CAA applicants must declare passport status, surrender foreign passports: Home Ministry

📌 Summary:

• MHA on May 18, 2026 amended the Citizenship Rules: every applicant under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 must now submit an affidavit declaring whether they hold a valid or expired passport of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh

• A new paragraph inserted in Schedule 1C of the CAA application form mandates the declaration; if the applicant holds such a passport, details (number, place/date of issue, expiry) must be supplied and the passport surrendered to the Senior/Superintendent of Post within 15 days of citizenship approval

• Applicants must also provide the date and month of entry into India; furnishing incorrect information can lead to deprivation of citizenship

• Political context: notification came days after BJP came to power for the first time in West Bengal, home to a large Matua community — the intended beneficiaries who often lack adequate migration documents

• CAA, 2019 became operational on March 11, 2024 with the notification of CAA Rules; it facilitates citizenship to six non-Muslim communities (Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist, Christian) from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014

• Rules permit "locally reputed community institutions" / local priests to issue mandatory certificates certifying the applicant's faith

• Before WB Assembly polls, MHA in Feb–March 2026 had notified four committees, headed by Central officials, to clear citizenship applications

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS-II — Government policies & welfare schemes; Centre–State implementation of citizenship laws; documentation challenges for undocumented migrants; secularism debate.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• CAA enacted in December 2019; Rules notified on March 11, 2024
• Six religions covered: Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist, Christian
• Three covered countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh
• Cut-off entry date: 31 December 2014
• Mandatory passport surrender to: Senior Superintendent / Superintendent of Post; within 15 days of approval
• Matua community: predominantly in West Bengal, migrated from Bangladesh

🔑 Key Term: Schedule 1C of Citizenship (Amendment) Rules — the schedule containing the CAA application form, now amended to require passport-status affidavits.