## Report on Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Order S.O. 2069(E)
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Order S.O. 2069(E), published on May 28, 2021, concerning the registration and naturalization of citizens of India. The order delegates authority to local Collectors and Secretaries of the Department of Home in specific states and districts to process citizenship applications from individuals belonging to minority communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This delegation aims to streamline the citizenship application process. The key finding is the decentralization of power to grant citizenship to specified minority groups in defined geographical areas, subject to online application, verification, and central government oversight.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Order S.O. 2069(E) based solely on the provided text. This analysis aims to clarify the order's objective, key provisions, target audience, implementation aspects, and expected outcomes.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a *new* policy order.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the core objective is to decentralize and expedite the process of granting Indian citizenship by registration or naturalization to members of minority communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, residing in specific districts and states. The order facilitates this by empowering local authorities to handle these applications.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* The policy likely addresses perceived inefficiencies or backlogs in the existing citizenship application process for the specified minority communities. The devolution of power suggests a desire to accelerate the process and potentially address regional needs or concentrations of eligible applicants. The focus on these particular religious minorities from these specific countries suggests a policy response to perceived persecution or vulnerabilities faced by these groups in their countries of origin.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
Since this is a new policy order, this section details the main components, rules, and actions mandated by the entire provided text:
* **Delegation of Authority:** The central government delegates the power to register individuals as citizens of India under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and to grant certificates of naturalization under Section 6 of the same act, to Collectors and Secretaries of the Department of Home.
* **Beneficiaries:** The delegated authority applies specifically to individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (referred to as "the applicant").
* **Geographical Scope:** The delegation applies to applicants residing in the following districts and states:
* Gujarat: Morbi, Rajkot, Patan, and Vadodara.
* Chhattisgarh: Durg and Balodabazar.
* Rajasthan: Jalore, Udaipur, Pali, Barmer, and Sirohi.
* Haryana: Faridabad district and the rest of Haryana (excluding Faridabad).
* Punjab: Jalandhar district and the rest of Punjab (excluding Jalandhar).
* **Application Process:**
* Applicants must apply online.
* Verification occurs simultaneously at the district and state levels.
* Applications and reports are accessible to the Central Government via an online portal.
* **Verification and Inquiry:**
* The Collector or Secretary conducts inquiries to assess the applicant's suitability.
* Applications are forwarded online to relevant agencies for verification and comments.
* Comments from these agencies are uploaded online and accessible to the Collector/Secretary and the Central Government.
* **Granting of Citizenship:**
* If satisfied with the applicant's suitability, the Collector or Secretary grants citizenship via registration or naturalization.
* A certificate of registration or naturalization, printed from the online portal and signed by the Collector or Secretary, is issued.
* **Record Keeping:**
* Collectors and Secretaries must maintain online and physical registers with details of registered or naturalized individuals.
* A copy of the register must be furnished to the Central Government within seven days of registration or naturalization.
* **Effective Date:** The order came into force on the date of its publication in the official Gazette (May 28, 2021) and remains valid until further orders.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
* **Directly Affected:** Individuals belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are residing in the specified districts and states.
* **Key Stakeholders:**
* Collectors of the specified districts.
* Secretaries of the Department of Home of Haryana and Punjab.
* Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs).
* Agencies involved in the verification process.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** Collectors of specified districts and Secretaries of the Department of Home of Haryana and Punjab are primarily responsible for implementing the order. The Ministry of Home Affairs retains oversight through the online portal. Verification agencies also play a role.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The order specifies a seven-day deadline for Collectors and Secretaries to provide the Central Government with a copy of the register after a person is registered or naturalized. The order also emphasizes the need to comply with instructions issued by the Central Government from time to time regarding the inquiry and verification process. It is clear that the application process has to be online, and should be made accessible to both the state and central governments.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* **Likely Intended Outcomes:**
* Accelerated processing of citizenship applications for eligible individuals.
* Reduced burden on central government agencies.
* Increased transparency through the online portal.
* Potentially, an increase in the number of individuals from the specified minority communities obtaining Indian citizenship.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Order S.O. 2069(E) represents a significant decentralization effort to streamline the citizenship process for specific minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. By empowering local authorities and leveraging an online portal for application and verification, the order aims to expedite the process while maintaining central government oversight. This order is significant for affected industry professionals as it will affect the application processes, as well as the locations that will see an increase in said minority religious groups.
Key Entities Referenced
Citizenship Act, 1955: A law regarding citizenship in India, specifically sections 5, 6, and 16 are mentioned.
Afghanistan: Country from which minority communities are considered for Indian citizenship.
Bangladesh: Country from which minority communities are considered for Indian citizenship.
Pakistan: Country from which minority communities are considered for Indian citizenship.
Hindus: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Sikhs: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Buddhists: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Jains: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Parsis: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Christians: A religious community considered for Indian citizenship in the context of the notification.
Morbi, Gujarat: District in the State of Gujarat where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Rajkot, Gujarat: District in the State of Gujarat where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Patan, Gujarat: District in the State of Gujarat where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Vadodara, Gujarat: District in the State of Gujarat where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Durg, Chhattisgarh: District in the State of Chhattisgarh where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Balodabazar, Chhattisgarh: District in the State of Chhattisgarh where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Jalore, Rajasthan: District in the State of Rajasthan where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Udaipur, Rajasthan: District in the State of Rajasthan where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Pali, Rajasthan: District in the State of Rajasthan where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Barmer, Rajasthan: District in the State of Rajasthan where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Sirohi, Rajasthan: District in the State of Rajasthan where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Faridabad, Haryana: District in the State of Haryana where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Jalandhar, Punjab: District in the State of Punjab where powers are delegated to the Collector for citizenship registration/naturalization.
Haryana: State in India, the Secretary of the Department of Home has powers for citizenship registration/naturalization (except Faridabad district).
Punjab: State in India, the Secretary of the Department of Home has powers for citizenship registration/naturalization (except Jalandhar district).
Citizenship Rules, 2009: Rules related to the Citizenship Act, 1955, governing registration and naturalization.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian Government Ministry that issued the order.
SUMANT SINGH: Jt. Secy., signatory of the order.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28052021-227219
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CG-DL-E-28052021-227219
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1924] नई ददल्ली, िुक्रिार, मई 28, 2021/ज्य ष्े ठ 7, 1943
No. 1924] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021/JYAISHTHA 7, 1943
गहृ मत्रं ालय
(जिदेिी प्रभाग)
आदेि
नई ददल् ली, 28 मई, 2021
का.आ. 2069(अ).—केन्द रीय सरकार, नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 (1955 का 57) की धारा 16 द्वारा प्रदत् त
िजियक का प्रय ग करत े एए, यह जनदेि देती ह ै दक अफगाजनस्ट् तान, बांग् लादेि र पादकस्ट् तान के अल्प सं् यक समुदायक के
दकसी भी व् यजि अर्ाात जहन्दद ,ू जसख, बौद्ध, िैन, पारसी र ईसाई (जिसे इसमें इसके पश्चात “आिेदक” कहा गया ह)ै ि
नीचे खंड (क) में उजल्लजखत जिलक र खडं (ख) में उजल्लजखत राज्य क में रह रह े ह, क नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 की
धारा 5 के अधीन भारत के नागररक के रूप में रजिस्ट्रीकृत करने अर्िा धारा 6 के अधीन उसे देिीयकरण संबंधी
प्रमाण-पत्र प्रदान करन े के जलए उनके द्वारा प्रय ग की िान े िाली िजियक का जनम् नजलजखत द्वारा भी प्रय ग दकया िाएगा-
(क) जनम्न जलजखत जिलक के संबंध म ेंकले् र, जिसकी अजधकाररता में आिेदक साधारणतया जनिासी ह ै –
(i) गुिरात राज्य म ेंम रबी, रािक , पा न एिं बडौदरा;
(ii) छत् तीसग र राज्य म ेंदगु ातर्ा बलौदाबाजार;
(iii) रािस्ट् र्ान राज्य म ेंिालौर, उदयपुर, पाली, बाडमेर तर्ा जसर ही;
(iv) हररयाणा राज्य म ेंफरीदाबाद; तर्ा
(v) पंिाब राज्य में िालंधर
2872 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(ख) हररयाणा के फरीदाबाद जिले तर्ा पंिाब के िालंधर जिल े के जसिाय हररयाणा एिं पंिाब राज्य क के गृह
जिभाग के सजचि, जिनकी अजधकाररता म ें आिेदक साधारणतया जनिासी ह,ै नागररकता जनयम, 2009
(जिसे इसमें इसके पश् चात उ्त जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के उपबधं क के अनुसार जनम्नजलजखत ितों के अध्यधीन
रहते एए प्रय ग दकया िायेगा, अर्ाात :-
(अ) उ्त जनयमक के अधीन आिेदक द्वारा भारत के नागररक के रूप में रजिस्ट्रीकरण या भारत के
नागररक के रूप म ें दिे ीयकरण प्रमाणपत्र प्रदान दकए िान े के जलए आिेदन आनलाइन दकया
िाएगा ;
(आ) आिेदक का सत् यापन यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कल् र अर्िा सजचि द्वारा जिला एि ं राज्य स्ट् तर पर सार्-
सार् दकया िाएगा तर्ा आिदे न एि ं उससे संबंजधत ररप ा केन्द रीय सरकार क एक सार्
आनलाइन प ाल पर उपलब् ध कराई िाएगी ;
(इ) आिेदक की उपयु्त ता क अजभजनजश्चत करने के जलए, यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कल् र अर्िा सजचि,
िैसा आिश्यक समझे िैसी िांच कराएगा तर्ा उस प्रय िन के जलए उस आिेदन क
आनलाइन ऐसे अजभकरणक क सत्यापन र र प्पजणयक के जलए भेिेगा ि ऐसी िांच पणू ा
करने के जलए अपेजित ह र इस संबंध में केंरीय सरकार द्वारा समय-समय पर िारी अनुदिे क
का संबंजधत राज्य या सघं राज्य िेत्र र जिला द्वारा कठ र अनुपालन दकया िाएगा;
(ई) खंड (इ) म ें जनर्दष्टा अजभकरणक की र प् पजणयक क ऐसी अजभकरणक द्वारा आनलाइन अपल ड
दकया िाना ह ै तर्ा इन्दह,ेंयर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कल् र अर्िा सजचि र केन्द रीय सरकार क उपलब् ध
कराया िाना ह ै;
(उ) यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कल् र अर्िा सजचि, आिेदक/आिेददका की उपयु् तता के संबंध म ें संतुष् ह ने
पर आिेदक/आिेददका क रजिस्ट्रीकरण अर्िा देिीयकरण द्वारा भारतीय नागररकता प्रदान
करेगा र उ्त जनयमक म ें यर्ा जिजहत प्रारूप म ें आनलाइन प ला स े सम्यक् रूप से मुदरत
तर्ा यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कल् र या सजचि द्वारा हस्ट्त ािररत यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, रजिस्ट्रीकरण या
देिीयकरण का प्रमाणपत्र िारी करेगा;
(ऊ) उ्त जनयमक के अनुसार कल् र र सजचि द्वारा एक आनलाइन के सार्-सार् भौजतक
रजिस्ट् र भी रखा िाएगा जिसमें भारत के नागररक के रूप में इस प्रकार रजिस्ट्रीकृत अर्िा
देिीयकृत व्यजियक का ब्यौरा ह गा तर्ा उस रजिस्ट् र की एक प्रजत ऐसे रजिस्ट्रीकरण अर्िा
देिीयकरण के सात ददन की अिजध के भीतर केंरीय सरकार क भेिी िाएगी
2. यह आदिे रािपत्र में इसके प्रकािन की तारीख क प्रिृत् त ह गा र आगामी आदेिक तक जिजधमान्द य ह गा
[फा.सं. 26030/266/2014-आईसी-II(खंड- II)(पा ा.)]
सुमंत ससंह, संयुि सजचि
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(Foreigners Division)
ORDER
New Delhi; the 28th May, 2021
S.O. 2069(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57
of 1955), the Central Government hereby directs that powers exercisable by it, for registration as a citizen
of India under section 5, or for grant of certificate of naturalisation under section 6, of the Citizenship Act,
1955, in respect of any person belonging to minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan,[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians(hereinafter referred to as “the applicant”),
residing in the districts mentioned in clause (a) below and the States mentioned in clause (b) below, shall
also be exercisable by —
(a) the Collector, within whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily resident, in relation to the
districts of -
(i) Morbi, Rajkot, Patan and Vadodara in the State of Gujarat ;
(ii) Durg and Balodabazar in the State of Chhattisgarh ;
(iii) Jalore, Udaipur, Pali, Barmer and Sirohi in the State of Rajasthan ;
(iv) Faridabad in the State of Haryana ; and
(v) Jalandhar in the State of Punjab ;
(b) the Secretary of the Department of Home of the States of Haryana and Punjab within
whose jurisdiction the applicant is ordinarily resident, except the district of Faridabad in Haryana
and the district of Jalandhar in Punjab, in accordance with the provisions of the Citizenship Rules,
2009 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), subject to following conditions, namely :-
(A) the application for registration as citizen of India or grant of certificate of naturalisation as
citizen of India under the said rules shall be made by the applicant online;
(B) the verification of the application is done simultaneously by the Collector or the Secretary, as
the case may be, at the district level and the State level and the application and the reports thereon
shall be made accessible simultaneously to the Central Government on online portal;
(C) the Collector or the Secretary, as the case may be, makes such inquiry as he considers
necessary for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant and for that purpose forwards the
application online to such agencies for verification and comments as may be required for
completing such an inquiry and the instructions issued by the Central Government from time to
time in this regard shall be strictly complied with by the State or Union territory and District
concerned ;
(D) the comments of the agencies referred to in clause (C) are uploaded online by such agencies
and accessible to the Collector or the Secretary, as the case may be, and the Central Government ;
(E) the Collector or the Secretary, as the case may be, on being satisfied with the suitability of the
applicant, grants him the citizenship of India by registration or naturalisation and issues a
certificate of registration or naturalisation, as the case may be, duly printed from online portal and
signed by the Collector or the Secretary, as the case may be, in the Form as prescribed in the said
rules; and
(F) the Collector and the Secretary shall maintain an online as well as physical register, in
accordance with the said rules, containing the details of the person so registered or naturalised as a
citizen of India and furnish a copy thereof to the Central Government within seven days of such
registration or naturalisation.
2. This Order shall come into force on the date of its publication in the official Gazette and shall
remain valid until further orders.
[F. No. 26030/266/2014-IC-II (Vol.II) (Pt.)]
SUMANT SINGH, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.