Yes, if they belong to the eligible communities under CAA.
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is a state-specific process aimed at identifying genuine Indian citizens residing in the state. If a person’s name is missing from the NRC final list, it usually means their citizenship is under legal question. However, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019, has a separate provision for granting Indian citizenship to certain religious communities from neighboring countries.
Under the CAA, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan on or before 31st December 2014 due to religious persecution can apply for Indian citizenship — even if their names are not in the NRC.
This means that exclusion from the NRC in Assam does not automatically disqualify someone from getting citizenship under the CAA, provided they meet the CAA’s eligibility criteria and belong to the communities it covers. However, those excluded from both NRC and CAA eligibility may face legal proceedings under the Foreigners’ Tribunal.
Key Points:
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NRC is Assam-specific; CAA is a nationwide law.
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NRC exclusion does not always mean loss of citizenship rights under CAA.
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CAA benefits are limited to six specific religious communities.
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CAA applicants must prove entry into India before 31 December 2014.
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Muslims are not covered under the CAA provisions.
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