Citizenship Context: The Supreme Court clarified that citizenship rights under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, will be granted only after authorities verify and confirm the applicants’ claims of being persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. About citizenship laws The citizenship laws in India derived their origins from the constitution under Articles 5-11and the Citizenship Act of 1955. This Act provided provisions for citizenship by birth, descent, registration and naturalisation. Key Features of the CAA Act, 2019 It amended the Citizenship Act of 1955to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for Indian citizenship. Those from these communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, would not be treated as illegal immigrants, providing a path to naturalisation.
