CAA relief: Cut-off date extended till December 2024 for persecuted minorities

The Union Home Ministry has provided relief for persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians. An order under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 allows those who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, to escape religious persecution to stay in the country without a valid passport or other travel documents. This extends the eligibility from the previous cut-off of December 31, 2014, under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which came into force last year. The move is expected to benefit a large number of people, especially Hindus from Pakistan who arrived after 2014. Discussing the political implications, Shukanta Majumdar stated, "The TMC will oppose it obviously because they want that only Muslim infiltrators, they should be given the citizenship... It is the mindset of the TMC." This development is anticipated to spark political debate, especially from opposition parties who have previously contested the CAA.