Patna: The first application under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been filed in Bihar, originating from the Bhojpur district. Officials confirmed the development following the Centre’s recent notification to implement the Act.
The application, whose details remain undisclosed for now, will undergo a thorough investigation process before the issuance of citizenship certificates. Chief Postmaster General Anil Kumar shared the update during a press conference in Ara, where he inaugurated the Indian Postal Department’s new Nodal Delivery Centre building.
Kumar stated, “The Postal Department is facilitating the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Until now, no applications had been received in Bihar, but we have now received the first application from the Bhojpur division. A committee will examine the application, and after approval from the higher committee, the details will be shared.”
CAA eligibility and conditions
The CAA enables non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to apply for Indian citizenship, provided they entered India on or before December 31, 2014. Applicants can obtain citizenship even without valid documents, including passports.
To qualify:
- Applicants must have lived in India for at least six years prior to 2014.
- They must demonstrate knowledge of one of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Required documents include a valid or expired passport, identity cards, and land tenancy records.
