The National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is an official record containing the names of Indian citizens residing in the state. The primary aim of the NRC update process was to identify illegal immigrants and verify citizenship based on historical documents, with 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date. Applicants had to submit valid documents proving their or their ancestors’ residence in Assam before this date.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019, is a law that provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for certain non-Muslim minorities — including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before 31 December 2014.
Key Difference:
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NRC is about verifying who is a legal citizen based on historical proof.
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CAA is about granting citizenship to specific groups who faced religious persecution in neighboring countries.
Impact in Assam:
The NRC update has raised debates over documentation, exclusions, and appeals, while the CAA has sparked political and social discussions due to its implications for the state's demography. Understanding both is important for anyone seeking clarity on citizenship status in Assam