The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India, enacted in December 2019, aims to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955. Here are the key provisions and objectives of the CAA:
1. Granting citizenship: The CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who arrived before December 2014.
2. Exclusion based on religion: The Act has been criticized for excluding Muslims from its provisions and allegedly violating the secular principles of the Indian Constitution.
3. Fast-tracking citizenship: The CAA speeds up the process of obtaining citizenship for eligible individuals by reducing the requirement for residency from 11 years to 5 years.
4. Humanitarian concerns: The Act aims to protect displaced religious minorities who faced persecution in neighboring countries and seek refuge in India.
5. Controversy and protests: The CAA has sparked nationwide protests as it intersects with concerns over citizenship rights, secularism, and potential exclusion of Muslim refugees.
It's important to note that this answer provides a summary and simplified explanation of the provisions and objectives of the CAA. The actual legislation comprises multiple sections and provisions.