The Indian government has unveiled regulations to enforce the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a move occurring just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks an unprecedented third term for his Hindu nationalist administration.

Enacted in 2019, the contentious law facilitated Indian citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries. Specifically, it granted eligibility to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled to predominantly Hindu India from predominantly Muslim Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before December 31, 2014.

However, the law faced criticism from various rights groups for excluding Muslims, raising concerns about the secular nature of the world's largest democracy. Despite nationwide protests following its passage, Modi's government had postponed drafting the accompanying rules.

The delay in implementation coincided with violent protests in New Delhi, resulting in numerous casualties, predominantly among Muslims, and extensive property damage.

A government spokesperson emphasized the significance of the CAA's implementation, linking it to the BJP's electoral promises and asserting its humanitarian intent to provide refuge to persecuted individuals. However, critics continue to highlight the law's perceived discriminatory nature, amid allegations of increasing Islamophobia and communal violence under Modi's leadership.