The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced a significant update to its citizenship application process, specifically targeting individuals arriving from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Under the newly amended regulations, which build upon the framework originally established in 2009 and recently updated this past March, applicants are now mandatorily required to disclose their history regarding travel documents issued by their home countries. This shift is part of an ongoing effort by the government to enhance procedural transparency and ensure a more robust verification process for those seeking naturalization.

According to the updated provisions, applicants must formally declare whether they possess a valid or expired passport from any of the three specified nations. If an applicant holds such a document, they are required to provide comprehensive details, including the passport number, the place and date of issuance, and the expiration date. Furthermore, once an individual's citizenship application is officially approved, they are obligated to surrender these foreign passports to the designated postal authorities within a strict 15-day window. Officials have stated that these changes are designed to streamline documentation requirements, ultimately creating a more consistent and clearer path for processing citizenship applications.