Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In the past 10 years, up to 18 Goan residents have obtained Indian citizenship, while 22 more have applications waiting before the Union Home Ministry.
Through a 2017 directive, the Ministry of Home Affairs gave the District Collectors the authority to look into foreign nationals living in Goa obtaining citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Ministry has been renewing its order every two years since that time. The most current two-year period began in October 2024.
According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, 18 Goans have received Indian citizenship from the Union Ministry thus far. The Union Ministry has received 22 cases from the District Collectors suggesting that Indian citizenship be granted.
According to the data, citizenship has been rejected by the Ministry four times.
In addition, 23 applications are still waiting before the district authority due to a lack of additional information or documentation. In five of these instances, the applicants themselves retracted their petitions.
In Goa, where millions of residents have revoked their Indian passports and obtained Portuguese citizenship in order to find work in EU nations, dual citizenship is a delicate topic.
Enacted under Section 16 of the Act, the directive mandates that collectors follow the Citizenship Rules, 2009, conduct inquiries fairly and transparently, and invite applications and objections with appropriate publicity.
