New Delhi, May 29 (Reporter) The Central Government on Wednesday began the process of granting citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 in West Bengal, Haryana and Uttarakhand, a Home Ministry statement said here. The first set of applications from the states were granted citizenship by the Empowered Committees of West Bengal, Haryana and Uttarakhand. It may be mentioned that on May 15, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over the first set of Citizenship Certificates to 14 persons under CAA in the National Capital. The Government had notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on 11th March. The Rules envisage the manner of application form, procedure for processing applications by District Level Committee (DLC) and scrutiny and grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committee (EC). The processing of applications is done completely through the online portal. In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered into India up to 31.12.2014 on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution...////...