Citizenship Grants in Border States Now Rest with Local District Collectors

MHA Empowers District Collectors to Grant Citizenship in Border States and UTs

In a significant move aimed at streamlining the citizenship process, the Union Home Ministry has granted district collectors in six border states and two Union Territories the authority to grant naturalised citizenship to "fit and proper" applicants.

The new rules, notified through the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules 2026, empower district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura (excluding tribal areas) to process citizenship-seeking applications for registration or naturalisation. The district collectors in these states will replace the "Empowered Committees" and "Designated Officers" that previously held these powers.

Under the new rules, district collectors will be responsible for receiving, scrutinising, and disposing of citizenship applications in accordance with the laid-down parameters. The collectors will be designated as the "competent authority" to receive requests for registration or naturalisation electronically.

The new rules apply to citizenship-seeking applicants who are ordinarily residing in the specified regions. In Assam and Tripura, the rules specifically exclude tribal areas. The government has directed that all applications currently pending with committees or District Level Committees in the specified regions be immediately transferred to the relevant collector.

Upon submission, the system will generate an automated acknowledgement, and the collector will then verify all submitted documents and conduct any inquiries necessary to determine the applicant's suitability. The collector must administer the oath of allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule to the Act and satisfy himself regarding the eligibility of the applicant under section 6B.

If the collector is satisfied that an applicant is a "fit and proper person", they are authorised to grant Indian citizenship directly. However, the new rules maintain strict requirements for applicants to appear in person. In case an applicant fails to appear in person to subscribe the application and take the oath of allegiance despite giving reasonable opportunities, the Collector shall reject the application.

The government has also rescinded previous orders "except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such rescission". This move is expected to simplify the citizenship process and reduce the burden on the existing infrastructure.

• 'The Collector shall verify the documents submitted by the applicant, along with the application, conduct such enquiry as he considers necessary for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant.'
• 'The Collector shall administer the oath of allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule to the Act and satisfy himself regarding the eligibility of the applicant under section 6B.'
• 'In case an applicant fails to appear in person to subscribe the application and take the oath of allegiance despite giving reasonable opportunities, the Collector shall reject the application.'

Key Takeaways

• District collectors in six border states and two Union Territories have been empowered to grant naturalised citizenship to "fit and proper" applicants.
• The new rules apply to citizenship-seeking applicants who are ordinarily residing in the specified regions, excluding tribal areas in Assam and Tripura.
• The government has directed that all applications currently pending with committees or District Level Committees in the specified regions be immediately transferred to the relevant collector.
• The new rules maintain strict requirements for applicants to appear in person and administer the oath of allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule to the Act.