15,036 Bangladeshi nationals given Indian citizenship since 2014

Nearly 19,000 people from five neighbouring countries, including 15,036 Bangladeshi nationals were granted citizenship of India since 2014, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Those who were granted Indian citizenship belonged to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said, NDTV reported. 

Among the 18,999 people who were granted Indian citizenship, a total of 15,036 were from Bangladesh, he said in a written reply.

The highest number of Bangladeshi nationals -- 14,864 people -- were granted Indian citizenship in 2015 under the section 7 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 following the signing of the Indo-Bangladesh land boundary agreement.

A total of 2,935 Pakistani, 914 Afghan and 113 Sri Lankan citizens and one Myanmar national were granted Indian citizenship from 2014 to 2019, Rai said.