Question : Application for Citizenship from Refugees

(a) the number of refugees and asylum seekers currently residing in the country, State-wise and country-wise;

(b) whether the applications for citizenship from those refugees who are staying in the country since partition are still pending;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to expedite the process of granting the citizenship;

(d) the facilities and protection provided to the said refugees including those residing in North-Eastern States of the country; and

(e) whether the Government has issued notification to provide refugees status to all the illegal Non-Muslim migrants from nearby countries and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): There is no national law on refugees at present. Only Standard Operating Procedure are issued by Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with
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LS.USQ.No. 894 FOR 1.3.2016

foreign nationals in India, who claim to be refugees. Available State-wise and country-wise statistics of stateless persons who claim to be refugees in India as on 31.12.2014 on the basis of inputs received from State Governments is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): Indian Citizenship is granted under the provisions of Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules made thereunder and there is no separate provision to grant Indian Citizenship to any refugees.

(d): Long Term Visas are granted to such foreigners based on existing guidelines after due security verification etc. which permits them for facilities at par with other foreigners such as – employment in the private sector, undertake studies in any academic institution etc.

(e): Notifications F.No. 25022/50/2015-F.I dated 07.09.2015 under Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and Foreigners Act, 1946 have been issued by this Ministry to regularize the entry and stay of persons belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely; Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered into India on or before the 31st December. 2014.
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