Today in New Delhi, Union Home Secretary Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla presented citizenship certificates to applicants under the recently notified Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. This marks the first issuance since the rules came into effect on March 11, 2024. The rules facilitate the application process through District Level Committees (DLCs) and State Level Empowered Committees (ECs) for individuals belonging to minority communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, fleeing persecution. The DLCs, chaired by designated officers, verified documents and administered oaths, forwarding successful applications to the ECs for scrutiny. The online portal streamlined the process, with 14 applicants granted citizenship by the EC in Delhi, headed by the Director (Census Operation).