India's Citizenship Amendment Act comes into force amid widespread protests

• The Indian Home Ministry is yet to frame the rules for the Act.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has come into force in India from January 10, 2020 amid widespread protests against the act in different parts of the country.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, in a notification issued on Friday, said that the CAA has come into effect on January 10. "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section [2] of the section 1 of the Citizenship [Amendment] Act, 2019 [47 of 201], the central government hereby appoints the 10th day of January, 2020, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force," the statement read.

However, the Home Ministry is yet to frame the rules for the Act.

I support CAA NRC Rally in Kalaburgi

One of the most mesmerizing strength pic.twitter.com/ucwvTraI1d

— uma reur (@UmaReur) January 11, 2020

Today, marching in favor of Citizenship Amendment Act inside Delhi University.

Students of Delhi University marching At Arts faculty supporting CAA , Also against Violence by left organization in JNU.#LeftBehindsViolence #IndiaSupportCAA

#AapChronologySamajhiye@shriniwas_hr pic.twitter.com/1CKHxlaHVI

— Kunal Nath Madhav (@KunalNathMadha1) January 11, 2020

Last year on December 11, the Indian government introduced a controversial bill in parliament that would give citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from three neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This mean the law will create a legal pathway to grant Indian nationality on the basis of religion.

Following the passing of the bill, widespread protests erupted in the country which turned violent after thousands of students protested the new act. More than 100 students many of whom were shot were injured when police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.

The CAA comes following the first National Register of Citizens published in August 2019. The NRC left almost two million people mostly Muslims stateless.