NationalMonday, 9 March 2026·The Hindu
First declared foreigner in Assam gets Indian citizenship under CAA on 7 March 2026
A 59-year-old woman from Assam became the first declared foreigner in India to receive citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 7 March 2026, Depali Das, a 59-year-old woman from Cachar district in Assam, received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) after being declared a foreigner by a tribunal in February 2019.
Key specifics
- Depali Das is 59 years old and belongs to Cachar district, Assam.
- She received her citizenship certificate on 7 March 2026.
- She was declared an illegal immigrant by a Foreigners’ Tribunal in February 2019.
- She was detained in Silchar detention centre from 10 May 2019 to 17 May 2021.
- Her citizenship is effective retrospectively from 7 February 1988 under the CAA process.
Exam lens
Polity and citizenship question: CAA, 2019, rules notified in 2024, 31 December 2014 cut-off, and the first declared foreigner to get citizenship are the key facts; TNPSC may ask the retrospective date and the tribunal process.