Limited Citizenship Under CAA in Assam Amid Legal and Documentation Challenges

Since March 2023, only two individuals in Assam have received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, despite 24 applications. The Act aims to grant citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Parsis from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Applicants face significant challenges due to stringent documentation requirements, such as proof of entry date, passports, and certificates from origin countries. Many migrants lack these papers and risk complications if they admit foreign origins, especially with ongoing Supreme Court petitions against the CAA.