Citizenship cut-off date July 1, 1987, clarifies Centre

New Delhi, December 20

The Centre today clarified that people need not worry about the CAA or the proposed countrywide NRC as according to the new law, those born in India before July 1, 1987, or whose one parent was born before that date are bona fide Indian citizens.

A top MHA official said as per the 2004 amendments to the Citizenship Act, people of the country, except those in Assam, whose one parent is an Indian and neither of them is an illegal immigrant are also considered Indian citizens. In Assam, the cut-off date for identification of an Indian citizen is 1971.

According to the 2004 amendments to the Citizenship Act, anyone born in India on or after January 26, 1950, but before July 1, 1987; anyone born in India on or after July 1, 1987, but before December 3, 2004, and where either of the parents is a citizen of India at the time of birth are bona fide Indian citizens. Those born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004, and whose parent was citizen of India by birth at the time of his or her birth are also Indians. If anyone was born in India on or after December 3, 2004, and if both the parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of his or her birth are also Indian citizens.