NEW DELHI — Following a general election in which expected beneficiaries largely failed to apply, the Ministry of Home Affairs has amended its citizenship rules to account for the sudden realization that undocumented migrants do not have documents.

The original legislation, passed in 2019 and finally notified just before the 2024 elections, was designed to simplify citizenship for persecuted minorities. However, initial implementation stalled when the rules required applicants to present official paperwork issued by foreign governments to prove their undocumented status.

To address the low uptake in politically crucial regions like West Bengal, the ministry has introduced a revised framework. The updated July 2024 guidelines now accept Indian-issued paperwork and feature a new "etc." clause, granting officials the discretionary power to accept whatever alternative documentation might facilitate applications from the Matua community during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

"We noticed that requiring people fleeing persecution to first stop by their former government's offices to collect certified documents was creating practical hurdles," said a ministry spokesperson. "The 'etc.' clause ensures we can finally deliver on the promises made to these communities five years ago, without letting our own rules get in the way."