Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 19th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order on August 19, 2026, to modify the administrative processing of citizenship applications under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The order rescinds previous government orders and mandates the immediate transfer of all pending applications from specialized committees to the respective Collectors in specific states and Union Territories. These changes are effective as of the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Key Points / Main Content
Changes to Territorial Applicability
The government order dated March 11, 2024 (S.O. 1231 (E)), shall no longer apply to the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (excluding tribal areas), and Tripura (excluding tribal areas).
The same order is also rendered inapplicable to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Rescission of Previous Orders
Order S.O. 941(E) dated February 20, 2026, and S.O. 1110 (E) dated March 2, 2026, are officially rescinded.
Any actions taken or omissions made under these orders prior to their rescission remain legally valid.
Administrative Reorganization of Applications
All applications submitted under section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, that are currently pending must be transferred to the Collector concerned.
This transfer applies to applications previously held by Empowered Committees and District-level Committees within the specified states and Union Territories.
Impact Analysis
Empowered Committees and District-level CommitteesImpact
These committees in the specified regions (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh) no longer have jurisdiction over pending citizenship applications under Section 6B.
Action Required
They must transfer all currently pending applications to the relevant local Collector.
Collectors (in Specified States and Union Territories)Impact
Collectors in the affected regions are now the designated authorities to receive and handle the applications transferred from the committees.
Action Required
Assume responsibility for the pending applications transferred from the Empowered and District-level Committees.
Applicants under Section 6B (in Specified Regions)Impact
The administrative body responsible for processing their citizenship applications has shifted from a committee-based structure to the office of the Collector.
Action Required
No specific action is mandated for applicants in the document, though they are subject to the change in processing authority.
Key Entities Referenced
Citizenship Act, 1955: The primary legislation (specifically Section 6B) under which the Central Government exercises its power to issue this order.
Citizenship Rules, 2009: The governing rules (specifically Rule 11A) cited as the legal framework for the administrative changes regarding citizenship applications.
Empowered Committee and District level Committee: The administrative bodies from which pending citizenship applications under section 6B are being transferred.
Collector: The designated local authority to whom pending citizenship applications in specified states and union territories are to be transferred.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh: The specific states and union territories where the application of previous orders is restricted and pending applications are redirected.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-19082026-275587
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CG-DLxx-ExG-I1D9E0x8x2x0 26-275587
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4403] नई ददल्ली, बधु िार, अगस्ट्त 19, 2026/श्रािण 28, 1948
No. 4403] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026/SHRAVAN 28, 1948
गहृ मत्रं ालय
आदेि
नई ददल्ली, 19 अगस्ट् त, 2026
का.आ. 4583(अ).— केन्द्रीय सरकार, नागररकता जनयम, 2009 के जनयम 11क के उपजनयम (1) और
उपजनयम (3) के साथ परित नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 (1955 का 57) की धारा 6ख की उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रदत्त
िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, जनम्नजलजखत जिजनर्दिष्ट करती ह,ै अथाित्:-
(क) भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खण्ड 3, उपखंड (ii) में संख्या का.आ. 1231 (अ), तारीख 11 मार्,ि 2024 को
प्रकाजित भारत सरकार के गृह मंत्रालय का आदेि, गुिरात, रािस्ट्थान, पंिाब, पजिम बगं ाल, असम (िनिातीय क्षेत्र को
छोड़कर), जत्रपुरा (िनिातीय क्षेत्र को छोड़कर) राज्यों तथा िम्मू-कश्मीर और लद्दाख संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों पर लाग ूनहीं होगा;
(ख) भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खण्ड 3, उपखंड (ii) में संख्या का.आ. 941(अ), तारीख 20 फरिरी, 2026 और
संख्या का.आ. 1110 (अ), तारीख 2 मार्,ि 2026 के अधीन प्रकाजित उन बातों के जसिाय, जिन्द्ह ेंऐसे जिखंडन से पूिि दकया
गया हो या करन े का लोप दकया गया हो, भारत सरकार के गृह मंत्रालय के आदेिों को जनरस्ट्त कर ददया िाएगा;
(ग) नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 के खंड 6ख के अधीन गुिरात, रािस्ट्थान, पंिाब, पजिम बंगाल, असम, जत्रपुरा राज्यों
तथा िम्म-ू कश्मीर और लद्दाख संघ राज्यक्षेत्रों की सिि सजमजत और जिला स्ट्तरीय सजमजत के पास लंजबत सभी आिेदन
संबंजधत कलेक्टर को स्ट्थानांतररत कर ददए िाएंगे।
6395 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
2. यह आदिे रािपत्र में इसके प्रकािन की तारीख से प्रिृत्त होगा।
[फा. स.ं 26030/22/2026-सीएए]
डॉ. संदीप एन. महात्मे, संयुि सजर्ि
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
ORDER
New Delhi, the 19th August, 2026
S.O. 4583(E) .— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 6B of the
Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955) read with sub-rules (1) and (3) of rule 11A of the Citizenship Rules, 2009,
the Central Government hereby specifies the following, namely:-
(a) the Order of the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs published in the Gazette of
India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O. 1231 (E), dated the 11th March,
2024 shall not apply to the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (except tribal area),
Tripura (except tribal area), Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh;
(b) the Orders of the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs published in the Gazette of
India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide numbers S.O. 941(E), dated the 20th February,
2026 and S.O. 1110 (E), dated the 02nd March, 2026 shall be rescinded, except as respects thing done or
omitted to be done before such rescission;
(c) all the applications under section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 pending with the Empowered
Committee and District level Committee of the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam,
Tripura, Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall be transferred to the Collector concerned.
2. This Order shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
[F. No. 26030/22/2026-CAA]
DR. SANDEEP N. MAHATME, 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.