UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — CAA applicants must declare passport status, surrender foreign passports: Ministry

Q1. With reference to the mode of acquiring citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 as compared with ordinary naturalisation under the Citizenship Act, 1955, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under the CAA, 2019 the aggregate residence qualification for the eligible migrants was reduced from eleven years to five years.
2. Like ordinary naturalisation under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the CAA route is available to eligible migrants irrespective of their religion.
3. The CAA route is confined to migrants from three specified countries, whereas ordinary naturalisation is not limited to nationals of specified countries.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the term 'illegal migrant' is most precisely defined as a foreigner who:

• A. enters India without a valid passport or other travel documents, or stays beyond the period permitted by such documents
• B. belongs to a religious minority in a neighbouring country and seeks refuge in India
• C. holds the passport of a country with which India has no diplomatic relations
• D. has resided in India for less than five years without registering with the local police

Q3. With reference to the processing of applications under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as per the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. Applications are submitted electronically to the Empowered Committee through the District Level Committee.
2. The District Level Committee is headed by the Senior Superintendent/Superintendent of Post.
3. The State Level Empowered Committee is headed by the Director (Census Operations).
4. The final decision to approve or reject an application rests with the District Level Committee.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 4 only
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, for how many months must an applicant have stayed in India continuously immediately preceding the date of the application (in addition to the longer aggregate residence requirement)?

• A. 12 months
• B. 6 months
• C. 60 months
• D. 72 months

Q5. With reference to the 2026 amendment to Schedule 1C of the Citizenship Rules, 2009 concerning CAA applicants, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. An applicant must file an affidavit declaring whether they possess any valid or expired passport of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.
2. An applicant holding such a passport must give an undertaking to surrender it within 15 days of approval of citizenship.
3. The surrender is to be made to the Senior Superintendent/Superintendent of Post.
4. The change was introduced by amending the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 itself.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 3
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Comparing the position before and after the 2026 amendment on passport status for CAA applicants, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Before the amendment, submission of a copy of a foreign passport was optional ('if available'), whereas the amendment makes a declaration on passport status mandatory.
2. The new requirement is inserted into Schedule 1C of the Citizenship Rules, 2009.
3. Unlike the earlier rules, the amendment requires the foreign passport to be surrendered before the application can be submitted.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The extension of the CAA cut-off date for entry into India to 31 December 2024 was effected through a notification issued by which one of the following?

• A. Ministry of Home Affairs
• B. Ministry of External Affairs
• C. Ministry of Law and Justice
• D. Ministry of Minority Affairs

Q8. With reference to the CAA cut-off date for entry into India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The original cut-off date for entry was 31 December 2014.
2. The cut-off date was subsequently extended to 31 December 2024.
3. The extension was notified in September 2025.
4. As a result of the extension, migrants who entered India during 2025 are now covered by the CAA.

• A. 1 and 4
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the Matua community and the CAA, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Matua community began migrating to West Bengal from the 1950s largely on account of religious persecution.
2. The Matua community is among the principal intended beneficiaries of the CAA in West Bengal.
3. Every member of the Matua community automatically becomes an Indian citizen on notification of the CAA, without making any application.
4. The community influences a number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in districts such as Nadia and the 24 Parganas.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 3 and 4

Q10. In West Bengal, the oath of allegiance to approved CAA applicants and the receipt of surrendered foreign passports are handled by designated officers of which one of the following?

• A. Department of Posts
• B. Bureau of Immigration
• C. Intelligence Bureau
• D. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner

Q11. With reference to the implementation of the CAA, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry for implementation of the CAA.
2. Applications are filed through a dedicated online portal.
3. An eligibility certificate from a 'locally reputed community institution' is required to establish the applicant's community.
4. Grant of citizenship under the CAA requires the prior approval of the concerned State Government.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4