The first batch of citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was issued to 14 individuals on Wednesday, nearly two months post the Centre's notification of the rules. Enacted to grant citizenship to minorities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, the CAA saw its rules notified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on March 11, following Parliament's passage of the Act in December 2019.

14 applicants, whose requests were processed online, received their citizenship certificates on Wednesday, presented by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. Among them, Bhavna expressed joy at being able to pursue further education in India, highlighting the challenges faced by girls in Pakistan and the opportunities available in India.

The CAA provides an expedited path to Indian citizenship for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in their home countries. However, the legislation has sparked widespread protests and debates across India.

In March, the Kerala government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, challenged the CAA's implementation in the Supreme Court, citing violations of constitutional principles. Additionally, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram stated that the CAA would be repealed in the first parliamentary session following the formation of the government by the INDIA bloc.

Despite opposition, the BJP-led government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has staunchly defended the CAA's implementation, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that it offers a pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.