Publication of Gazette Notification for the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026
Issued by Ministry of Home Affairs · Foreigners Division
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 18th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective from August 19, 2026, amend the Citizenship Rules, 2009, to streamline the application process for registration or naturalization under section 6B of the Act. The rules empower jurisdictional Collectors in specific States and Union Territories to act as the competent authority to receive, scrutinize, and grant citizenship. Applicants in these regions are now required to submit their applications electronically and undergo verification directly through the Collector’s office.
Key Points / Main Content
Jurisdictional Scope
- The amended rules apply to applicants ordinarily residing in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (excluding tribal areas), Tripura (excluding tribal areas), Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
- Collectors in these specific regions are designated as the competent authority to process and dispose of citizenship applications under section 6B.
Application and Processing
- Applications for registration or naturalization must be submitted by the applicant in electronic form.
- An electronic acknowledgment in Form IX is automatically generated upon submission.
- The Collector is responsible for verifying documents, conducting necessary inquiries to determine suitability, and ensuring eligibility under section 6B.
Granting of Citizenship
- The Collector is authorized to administer the Oath of Allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule of the Act.
- If the Collector is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person, they are empowered to grant Indian citizenship.
- Applications will be rejected if the applicant fails to appear in person to sign the application or take the oath after being given reasonable opportunities.
Administrative Adjustments
- References to the "Collector" have been inserted alongside "Empowered Committee" and "Designated Officer" across various rules (Rules 14, 15, and 38) and schedules (Schedule I and IC).
- Forms IIA through VIIIA now include provisions for submission directly to the Collector for applicants in the specified territories.
Impact Analysis
Applicants (in specified States and Union Territories) Impact Applicants in the designated regions can now have their citizenship applications processed locally by the Collector rather than through a centralized committee. Action Required Must submit applications electronically and appear in person before the jurisdictional Collector to verify documents and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance.
Collectors (in specified States and Union Territories) Impact Collectors are now vested with the legal authority to scrutinize applications, conduct inquiries, and independently grant or reject citizenship under section 6B. Action Required Must establish procedures to receive electronic applications, conduct suitability inquiries, verify documentation, and administer the Oath of Allegiance to eligible applicants.
Key Entities Referenced
Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026: The primary amendment rules notified to update procedures for citizenship registration and naturalization.
Citizenship Act, 1955: The parent legislation governing Indian citizenship, specifically referencing Section 6B for application eligibility.
Citizenship Rules, 2009: The principal regulatory framework being amended to incorporate new application processing guidelines.
Collector: The designated competent authority empowered to receive, verify, and dispose of citizenship applications in specific regions.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh: The specific states and union territories where the revised application processing through the Collector is applicable.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-19082026-275585
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D9H0x8x2x0 26-275585
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 676] नई दिल्ली, बधु वार, अगस्ट्त 19, 2026/श्रावण 28, 1948
No. 676] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026/SHRAVAN 28, 1948
गहृ मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 19 अगस्ट् त, 2026
सा.का.जन. 742(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 (1955 का 57) की धारा 18 द्वारा प्रित्त
िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, नागररकता जनयम, 2009 का और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती है,
अर्ाात:् —
1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ- (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम नागररकता (तृतीय संिोधन) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) य ेरािपत्र में उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे।
2. नागररकता जनयम, 2009 (जिसे इसमें इसके पश्चात् उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै में जनयम 11क के उप-जनयम (5) के पश्चात,्
जनम्नजलजखत उप-जनयम अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकया िाएगा, अर्ाात्:—
“(6) इस जनयम या जनयम 13क में अंतर्वाष्ट दकसी बात के होते हुए भी, गुिरात, रािस्ट्र्ान, पंिाब, पजश्चम बंगाल, असम
(िनिातीय िेत्र को छोड़कर), जत्रपुरा (िनिातीय िेत्र को छोड़कर) राज्यों तर्ा िम्म-ू कश्मीर और लद्दाख संघ राज्यिेत्रों म ें
सामान्यतः जनवास करने वाले आवेिकों के संबंध में, धारा 6ख के अधीन रजिस्ट्रीकरण या िेिीयकरण के जलए आवेिन,
आवेिक द्वारा अजधकाररता रखने वाले कलक्े टर को, इलेक्रॉजनक रूप म,ें प्रस्ट्तुत दकया िाएगा, िो ऐसे आवेिनों को प्राप्त
करने, समीिा और जनपटारा करने के जलए सिम प्राजधकारी होगा और वह जनम्नजलजखत रीजत से काया करेगा, अर्ाात:् —
6394 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(क) आवेिन की प्राजप्त पर प्रIरूप 9 म ेंएक पावती इलेक्रॉजनक रूप से प्राप्त हो िाएगी;
(ख) कलक्े टर, आवेिन के सार् आवेिक द्वारा प्रस्ट्तुत दकए गए िस्ट्तावेिों को सत्याजपत करेगा, आवेिक की उपयुिता जनधााररत
करने के जलए ऐसी िांच करेगा, जिसे वह आवश्यक समझे, आविे क को अजधजनयम की िसू री अनुसूची में जवजनर्िाष्ट रािजनष्ठा
की िपर् दिलाएगा और धारा 6ख के अधीन आवेिक की पात्रता को सुजनजश्चत करेगा;
(ग) कलेक्टर, आवेिक की उपयिु ता के संबंध में यह समाधान हो िाने पर दक वह, यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, रजिस्ट्रीकरण या ििे ीयकृत
दकए िाने के जलए उपयिु व्यजि ह,ै उसे भारत की नागररकता प्रिान करेगा;
(घ) यदि कोई आवेिक उजचत अवसर दिए िान े के बाविूि आवेिन पर हस्ट्तािर करन ेतर्ा रािजनष्ठा की िपर् लेन े के जलए
व्यजिगत रूप से उपजस्ट्र्त होने में जवफल रहता ह,ै तो कलेक्टर ऐसे आवेिन को अस्ट्वीकार कर िेगा।”
3. उि जनयमों के जनयम 14 के उप-जनयम (2ग) म,ें “सिि सजमजत” िब्िों के पश्चात् “या, यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कलेक्टर” िब्ि
अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकए िाएगं े।
4. उि जनयमों के जनयम 15 के उप-जनयम (1ग) म,ें “सिि सजमजत” िब्िों के पश्चात् “या, यर्ाजस्ट्र्जत, कलेक्टर” िब्ि
अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकए िाएगं े।
5. उि जनयमों के जनयम 38 के उप-जनयम (3) म,ें “अजभहीत अजधकारी” िब्िों के पश्चात ् “या कलेक्टर” िब्ि अतं ःस्ट्र्ाजपत
दकए िाएंगे।
6. उि जनयमों की अनुसूची 1 म,ें प्ररूप 2क, 3क, 4क, 5क, 6क, 7क और 8क म,ें िीर्ाक “आवेिक द्वारा आवेिन के सार्
संलग्न दकए िाने वाल ेिस्ट्तावेि” से पहल ेजनम्नजलजखत परंतुक अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकया िाएगा, अर्ाात्:—
“परंत ु यह दक गुिरात, रािस्ट्र्ान, पंिाब, पजश्चम बंगाल, असम (िनिातीय िेत्र को छोड़कर), जत्रपुरा (िनिातीय िेत्र को
छोड़कर) राज्यों तर्ा िम्म-ू कश्मीर और लद्दाख संघ राज्यिेत्रों म ेंसामान्यतः जनवास करन े वाले आवेिकों के मामल े में, सभी
प्रकार से पूण ा यह प्रारूप अजधकाररता रखन े वाल े कलेक्टर को प्रस्ट्ततु दकया िाएगा, िो जनयम 11क के अधीन आवेिन की
कारावाई और उसका जनपटारा करेगा।”
7. उि जनयमों की अनुसूची ग के पैरा (iiiक) म,ें “वररष्ठ डाक अधीिक या अधीिक डाक” िब्िों के पश्चात ्“या कलेक्टर” िब्ि
अंतःस्ट्र्ाजपत दकए िाएगं े।
[फा. सं. 26030/22/2026-CAA]
डॉ. संिीप एन. महात्मे, संयुि सजचव
रटप्पण: मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खडं 3, उप-खडं (i) म ें अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 124(अ),
तारीख 25 फरवरी, 2009 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए र् े और इनमें अंजतम संिोधन अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन. 369(अ),
तारीख 18 मई, 2026 द्वारा दकए गए र्े।
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 19th August, 2026
G.S.R. 742(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 18 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57
of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Citizenship Rules,
2009, namely:-[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) These rules may be called the Citizenship (Third Amendment)
Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Citizenship Rules, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 11A, after sub-rule
(5), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: -
"(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule or rule 13A, in respect of applicants ordinarily residing
in the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (except tribal area), Tripura (except tribal
area), Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, an application for registration or naturalisation
under section 6B shall be submitted by the applicant in electronic form to the Collector having jurisdiction,
who shall be the competent authority to receive, scrutinize and dispose of such applications in the following
manner, namely:-
(a) on submission of the application, an acknowledgment in Form IX shall be generated electronically;
(b) the Collector shall verify the documents submitted by the applicant, along with the application,
conduct such enquiry, as he considers necessary for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant, administer
the Oath of Allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule to the Act and satisfy himself regarding the
eligibility of the applicant under section 6B;
(c) the Collector on being satisfied with the suitability of the applicant that he is a fit and proper person
to be registered or naturalised, as the case may be, shall grant him the citizenship of India;
(d) In case an applicant fails to appear in person to subscribe the application and take oath of allegiance
despite giving reasonable opportunities, the Collector shall reject the application.”.
3. In the said rules, in rule 14, in sub-rule (2C), after the words “Empowered Committee”, the words
“or the Collector, as the case may be” shall be inserted.
4. In the said rules, in rule 15, in sub-rule (1C), after the words “Empowered Committee”, the words
“or the Collector, as the case may be” shall be inserted.
5. In the said rules, in rule 38, in sub-rule (3), after the words “Designated Officer”, the words “or the
Collector” shall be inserted.
6. In the said rules, in Schedule I, in Forms IIA, IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA and VIIIA, before the
heading “DOCUMENTS TO BE ATTACHED WITH THE APPLICATION BY THE APPLICANT”, the
following proviso shall be inserted, namely: -
"Provided that in the case of applicants ordinarily residing in the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West
Bengal, Assam (except tribal area), Tripura (except tribal area), Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and
Ladakh this completed form shall be submitted to the Collector having jurisdiction, who shall process and
dispose of the application under rule 11A.".
7. In the said rules, in Schedule IC, in para (iiiA), after the words “Senior Superintendent of Post or
Superintendent of Post”, the words “or the Collector” shall be inserted.
[F.No.26030/22/2026-CAA]
DR. SANDEEP N. MAHATME, Jt. Secy.
Note: The Principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-
section (i), vide notification number G.S.R. 124(E), dated the 25th February, 2009 and last amended vide
notification number G.S.R. 369(E), dated the 18th May, 2026.
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.