Relevance: Polity — Citizenship, Rights & Judicial Review (GS-2) • Source: The Indian Express; Supreme Court observations The Supreme Court has emphasised that the conferral of rights under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 to persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh depends on official verification of their claims — rejecting any automatic grant and flagging risks of statelessness where documentation is lacking.

Key Provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019

• Provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from the three neighbouring countries who entered India on or before 31 December 2014.
• Eases residency/naturalisation requirements for these applicants (special provisions in law).
• Does not apply automatically — verification and statutory process remain essential.

Implications:  The Act raises contested questions on secularism (differential treatment by religion) while its proponents argue it addresses humanitarian concerns and national security linked to persecution.

Q. With reference to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, consider the following statements:

1. The Act provides expedited citizenship to specified non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India before 31 December 2014.
   
2. The Act itself automatically confers Indian citizenship on eligible applicants without any administrative verification.
   
3. The Supreme Court has held that conferment of rights under the Act is subject to verification of claims.
   

Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

(Answer: C)