CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC IAS

The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), facilitating citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, passed by Parliament in December 2019.

1: Dimension- Impact of CAA

• Citizenship: CAA was introduced to benefit the six minorities from the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The citizens of India will not be impacted by the CAA.
• Preservation: The objectives of the CAA are centred around removing legal barriers that impede the resettlement and attainment of Indian citizenship for migrants, thereby preserving their cultural, linguistic, and social identity. 
• Economic benefits: Furthermore, the legislation aims to ensure economic, commercial, freedom of movement, and property acquisition rights for these migrants.
• Why only these three countries? The CAA deals with religious persecution in three neighboring countries where the Constitution provides for a specific state religion. Followers of other religions have been persecuted in these three countries.

2: Dimension- Concerns vs Significance

Concerns

• Discrimination against Muslims: Critics argue that the CAA discriminates against Muslims. However, Muslims are not included in CAA as they are not in minority in the specified countries.
• Potential Impact on NPR and NRC: There are apprehensions about the potential implications of the CAA on the National Population Register (NPR) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Significance

• The Centre has defended the CAA on several grounds:
• Historical Obligation: India bears a historical responsibility and moral obligation to provide refuge to persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Humanitarian Grounds: The CAA is framed as a humanitarian response to the plight of religious minorities who have endured persecution in the neighboring countries.
• Protection of Religious Minorities: The primary aim of the CAA is to offer legal protection and a pathway to citizenship for religious minorities.

3: Dimension- Connection with NRC

• The National Register of Citizens (NRC) has only thus far been introduced in Assam, a region battling challenges due to illegal immigration. The aim is two-pronged: to expunge unauthorised entries and act as a deterrent against prospective migrations.
• CAA has no link with NRC.