The Central Government has notified the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing a revised procedure for processing applications for registration or naturalisation under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 in specified States and Union Territories. The rules were notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 19, 2026 and came into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the amended Rule 11A, applicants ordinarily residing in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (excluding tribal areas), Tripura (excluding tribal areas), Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh will submit their Section 6B applications electronically to the Collector having jurisdiction. The Collector has been made the competent authority to receive, scrutinise and dispose of these applications.
Following submission, an electronic acknowledgement in Form IX will be generated. The Collector will verify the documents furnished with the application and conduct such inquiry as considered necessary to determine the applicant’s suitability. The Collector must also administer the Oath of Allegiance prescribed under the Second Schedule to the Citizenship Act and satisfy himself regarding the applicant’s eligibility under Section 6B.
Where the Collector is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person for registration or naturalisation, the Collector may grant Indian citizenship. However, an application may be rejected if, despite being given reasonable opportunities, the applicant fails to appear personally to subscribe the application and take the Oath of Allegiance.
The amendment also modifies Rules 14, 15 and 38 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009 by adding references to the Collector alongside the existing references to the Empowered Committee or Designated Officer, as applicable.