The Indian government on Monday implemented the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or CAA, which was passed by the country's parliament more than four years ago.

The Federal Home (Internal Security) Ministry issued an official notification in this regard during the day.

The notification came just days ahead of the announcement of general elections soon to be made by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Though dates are yet to be announced, the polls are expected to be held in April-May.

Passed in December 2019, the CAA mainly aims at providing citizenship to migrants belonging to six communities, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who had entered the country before Dec. 31, 2014 for religious reasons.

Those aspiring to get citizenship under the CAA will have to apply for it online through a web portal, said a post by the federal government's Press Information Bureau on X (erstwhile Twitter).

Passing of the CAA in December 2019 attracted widespread protests by people belonging to the Muslim community living in many parts of the country, mainly Delhi. It also witnessed violence at some places leading to deaths of several protesters.

The protesters argued that the CAA would result in religious discrimination, and isolation of Muslims and they also opposed the National Register of Citizen  and the National Population Register, which they called "anti-Muslims".

Fearing protests once again, heavy security was deployed in some parts of Delhi and the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh after the implementation of the CAA on Monday, said media reports.