New Delhi: The Centre is expected to announce the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) today, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed that the CAA, which was passed in 2019, would be put into effect before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections once the necessary rules are issued.

The CAA, enacted by Parliament on December 11, 2019, has sparked widespread debate and protests across India.

This legislation amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to offer expedited citizenship to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities. These individuals must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in their home countries.

Protests, including the notable gatherings at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and in Guwahati, Assam, ensued following the enactment of the CAA. However, these demonstrations gradually subsided during the Covid-induced restrictions and subsequent lockdowns.

Despite being passed in Parliament four years ago, the CAA has not been implemented due to the need for finalizing rules and procedures.

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