The Union House Ministry on Wednesday authorised district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura (besides tribal areas), and Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to grant naturalised citizenship to “match and correct” candidates ordinarily residing in these areas.
The federal government notified the Citizenship (Third Modification) Guidelines 2026 on Wednesday, granting district collectors in these states and UTs the authority to course of citizenship-seeking purposes for “registration or naturalisation”.
“The Collector, on being happy with the suitability of the applicant, that he’s a match and correct particular person to be registered or naturalised, because the case could also be, shall grant him the citizenship of India,” the notified guidelines mentioned.
The district collectors in these states will substitute the “Empowered Committees” and “Designated Officers” that beforehand held these powers.
Within the gazette notification, the House Ministry has authorised district collectors in these areas to “obtain, scrutinise, and dispose” of such purposes in accordance with the laid-down parameters.
The brand new guidelines apply to citizenship-seeking candidates ordinarily residing in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, in addition to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In Assam and Tripura, the principles particularly exclude tribal areas.
District collector is ‘competent authority’
The brand new guidelines designate the district collector because the “competent authority” to obtain requests for registration or naturalisation “electronically”.
The federal government has directed that every one purposes at the moment pending with these committees or District Degree Committees within the specified areas be instantly transferred to the related collector.
Upon submission, the system will generate an automatic acknowledgement. The collector will then confirm all submitted paperwork and conduct any inquiries needed to find out the applicant’s suitability.
“The Collector shall confirm the paperwork submitted by the applicant, together with the applying, conduct such enquiry as he considers needed for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant, administer the oath of allegiance as specified within the Second Schedule to the Act and fulfill himself relating to the eligibility of the applicant beneath part 6B,” the notification mentioned.
If the collector is happy that an applicant is a “match and correct particular person”, they’re authorised to grant Indian citizenship instantly. As a part of the ultimate steps, the collector should administer the oath of allegiance as prescribed by the Act.
Nevertheless, the brand new guidelines keep strict necessities for candidates to look in particular person. “In case an applicant fails to look in particular person to subscribe the applying and take the oath of allegiance regardless of giving affordable alternatives, the Collector shall reject the applying,” mentioned the notified guidelines.
The federal government has additionally rescinded earlier orders “besides as respects issues finished or omitted to be finished earlier than such rescission”.
