New Delhi, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Centre has empowered district collectors in six states and two Union Territories to receive, scrutinise and dispose of applications for registration or naturalisation under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, under a new amendment to the Citizenship Rules.
The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, on August 19, transferring these powers to collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, excluding tribal areas in the last two states, as well as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the amended rules, applicants ordinarily residing in these jurisdictions must submit their applications electronically to the collector concerned. The collector will verify documents, conduct necessary enquiries, administer the oath of allegiance and determine the applicant’s eligibility and suitability.
If satisfied that an applicant is a fit and proper person to be registered or naturalised, the collector can grant Indian citizenship. An application can be rejected if the applicant fails to appear in person to subscribe to the application and take the oath despite being given reasonable opportunities.
The amendment effectively shifts the final decision-making role from the earlier system involving Empowered Committees and Designated Officers to the district collector in the specified jurisdictions. Pending matters handled by the earlier authorities are also to be transferred to the respective collectors.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, amended the Citizenship Act to create a special pathway to citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. The law reduced the required period of residence for eligible applicants from 11 years to five years.
FOLLOW NOW
