The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India has announced significant amendments to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, specifically targeting applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Under the revised regulations, individuals applying for Indian citizenship must now provide detailed information about their passports, including the passport number, place and date of issuance, and expiry date. This requirement aims to enhance the verification process and ensure that citizenship is granted only after thorough documentation checks. Furthermore, once citizenship is approved, applicants are obligated to surrender their passports to the relevant authorities within 15 days. This new clause is intended to maintain clear and traceable records and reduce discrepancies in applications. The changes reflect the government's commitment to improving the overall structure of the citizenship process, aligning it with broader goals of internal security and accurate documentation. The rules, which were last updated on March 11, 2024, operate alongside the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, which facilitates citizenship for certain religious communities facing persecution in these countries.