In a significant political maneuver, the Kerala government has recently passed the Kerala Nativity Card Bill, 2026, which aims to replace nativity certificates issued by tahsildars and serve as an official document for accessing state services and administrative purposes. The new card, valid for a lifetime, will not confer citizenship and is open only to individuals who are Indian citizens. Those with foreign citizenship are ineligible for the card.
The bill comes at a crucial time for the state, as it prepares for an assembly battle. The move by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is being seen as an attempt to project itself as a protector of minority communities, following recent defeats in local body polls where minority voters largely favored the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).
The new bill assumes significance amidst ongoing efforts by the central government to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019. The CAA grants Indian citizenship to undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who belong to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities but excludes Muslims. Critics have criticized the CAA for making religion the basis for citizenship and for potentially marginalizing Muslims when combined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Revenue Minister K. Rajan called the nativity card bill a rare moment in Kerala’s history, stating that citizenship and nativity are separate concepts. He added that the state’s move aims to provide proof of its citizens and instill a sense of belonging among them.
