The initial CAA had put the deadline at December 31, 2014; The fresh notification widens the ambit of the law so that many of those who have come to India in the last decade can seek citizenship, a decision that comes after years of representations by refugee communities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday extended the cut-off date for entry into India under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to December 31, 2024, widening the scope of the law five years after its passage.
The fresh directive, in effect, expanded the scope of eligibility for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
The initial CAA had put the deadline at December 31, 2014.
The fresh notification widens the ambit of the law so that many of those who have come to India in the last decade can seek citizenship, a decision that comes after years of representations by refugee communities.
Enacted in December 2019, the CAA offers Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered the country due to religious persecution.
With the new notification, individuals from the specified communities who entered India up to the end of 2024 will be eligible to apply, even if they did not possess valid passports or travel documents, or if such documents have expired.
Timing
The timing of the decision is equally significant. For nearly five years, the Act remained on the statute books but largely unimplemented due to widespread protests, court challenges, and the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
By pushing the cut-off forward, the Centre is operationalising the law and also signaling political intent.
Analysts are also sensing electoral undertones.
With key state polls approaching and the 2026 general election on the horizon, the move is expected to resonate in politically sensitive border states like Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura — regions where migration has long shaped political discourse. The BJP has repeatedly portrayed the Act as both a moral obligation and a civilisational duty to shelter persecuted minorities, and Wednesday’s announcement reinforces that narrative.
The extension is expected to benefit those who fled more recently from the three neighbouring countries, including Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who sought shelter in India after the Taliban takeover in 2021, and minority groups in Pakistan and Bangladesh who continue to face discrimination.
Although cleared by Parliament nearly five years ago, the CAA remained largely on hold amid nationwide protests, legal challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic. Wednesday’s move signals the Centre’s intent to operationalise the law in full.
Officials said the extension was aimed at addressing the continued inflow of migrants facing religious persecution.
However, the timing of the announcement is also likely to have political implications. With Assembly elections due in several states and the 2026 general election on the horizon, the CAA remains a key part of the BJP’s political messaging, particularly in border states such as Assam and West Bengal where migration is a sensitive issue.
The Act has been one of the most contentious legislations of recent years. While the government has described it as a humanitarian measure and a moral responsibility, critics have argued that it undermines India’s secular principles by excluding Muslims.
