Draft Changes to the Citizenship Rules, 2009
The Centre has proposed amendments to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, targeting applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Key Amendments
- Possession or Surrender of Passports:
- Applicants must declare whether they have a valid or expired passport from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.
- They are required to provide passport details including number, date and place of issue, and expiry.
- Applicants must surrender these passports to the Senior Superintendent of Post or Superintendent of Post within 15 days of citizenship approval.
- Implementation:
- The rules will be effective from the date of publication in the official gazette.
- The amendment aims to enhance verification and record-keeping for citizenship applications.
Recent Developments in Citizenship Rules
- Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026:
- Introduced electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) cards.
- Mandated fully online applications and strict norms on dual passports for minors.
- Digital Framework:
- OCI applications to be fully digital, with online records and acknowledgements.
- New provision for issuing electronic OCI along with physical cards, facilitating a paperless identity system for overseas Indians.
- Applicants must consent to share biometric data for potential integration with fast-track immigration programmes.
