The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been a topic of discussion among UPSC aspirants due to a recent report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research wing of the US Congress. The report raised concerns about potential constitutional breaches by certain provisions of the CAA.
Enacted this year, the CAA modifies the 1955 Citizenship Act and allows for the grant of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. However, the CRS report points out that the key provisions of the CAA, which exclude Muslims and grant citizenship based on religion, may violate certain Articles of the Indian Constitution.
One major concern highlighted in the report is the impact of the CAA in conjunction with a planned National Register of Citizens (NRC) on India's Muslim population. Critics fear that these measures could undermine India's secular identity and lead to discriminatory practices.
The report also notes the timing of the CAA's implementation, coinciding with the BJP's re-election campaign. This has led to speculation about political motivations behind the law.
While the Biden administration has expressed concerns about the CAA, India has maintained that the law is aimed at granting citizenship and has assured that no citizen will lose their citizenship as a result of this legislation.
UPSC aspirants should be aware of these developments and understand the various perspectives and implications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, as it is a significant topic in contemporary Indian politics and governance.
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