sb.scorecardresearch

Published 01:11 IST, December 22nd 2019

Finance Ministry clears rumors around KYC forms asking Indian citizens to declare religon

Recently reports had come to surface which spoke about how Indian Citizens would have to now declare their religion in the 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) form

Reported by: Ananya Varma
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
Finance Ministry
null | Image: self

On Saturday, the Central government cleared further air around citizenship and rumors surrounding it. Recently, reports had surfaced which spoke about how Indian Citizens would have to now declare their religion in the 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) forms of all the bank accounts. The Department of Financial Services at the Ministry of Finance dispelled such baseless rumors informing the citizens that there is no such requirement. 

Read: LJP says protests show govt failed to dispel confusion over CAA; hints at opposing NRC

"There is no requirement for the Indian citizens to declare their religion for opening/existing bank account or for KYC," Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, tweeted."Do not fall for baseless rumors about any such move by banks," he added.

Read: Anti-CAA Protests LIVE Updates: 11 dead in UP, Bhim Army chief sent to judicial custody

According to a media report that surfaced, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians refugees -- from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan holding long-term visas (LTVs) -- will have to disclose their religion in the bank's KYC forms. This means that the 'persecuted minorities'  on the other hand and not the citizens of any particular religion, will have to disclose all information regarding their stay, their visas, etc. 

Read: Shocking video of cops being chased, attacked with stones in Seemapuri, Delhi

Govt releases FAQ on CAA & NRC to allay rumors

Recently, the Central Government put out an FAQ list, on the Press Information Bureau website on December 20, addressing questions pertaining to how the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is different from the CAA. It explained in great detail how the CAA is a separate law and NRC a separate process. It also spoke about how the CAA is in force nationwide after its passage in the Parliament while the NRC rules and procedures for the country are yet to be decided. They also spoke about how NRC is not about any religion at all. 

Read: NRC Row: Facts you need to know about the National Register of Citizens

Read: Bail denied, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad sent to 14-day judicial custody

Updated 05:40 IST, December 22nd 2019