MHA forms 2nd empowered committee for Bengal to fast-track requests under CAA
Times of India
by BHARTI JAINFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Union Home Ministry has established a second empowered committee in West Bengal to expedite the processing of citizenship requests under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019. This new committee aims to address the growing number of applications by streamlining the verification and approval process, particularly for immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who belong to six recognized minority communities—Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi—and entered India before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution. The committee will operate alongside the original one, sharing the workload to reduce processing time.
The new empowered committee is led by the deputy registrar general of the Directorate of Census Operations in West Bengal. It includes representatives from various government departments and agencies, such as the Intelligence Bureau, postal services, and railway operations, ensuring a coordinated effort in verifying and processing applications. While some members remain unchanged from the original committee established in March 2024, new roles have been added to handle the increased volume of requests.
The decision to form this second committee reflects the rising number of citizenship applications in West Bengal, particularly from communities like the Matua Hindus. Political observers note that this move aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to strengthen its electoral base in the region ahead of key elections. The CAA has been a contentious issue globally, with critics arguing it undermines India’s secular identity and favors Hindu nationalists.
This development underscores the ongoing debates over citizenship laws and their impact on minority communities in South Asia. As neighboring countries express concerns over potential demographic changes resulting from the CAA, this initiative by the Indian government highlights the complex interplay between migration, identity, and political strategy in addressing citizenship claims.
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/20/2026