Kathmandu, July 5 -- The news headlines this week said: 'The House of Representatives passed the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill that now makes acquiring citizenship through the mother as equal as through the father.'

Could it really be true? There is genuine confusion or deliberate misunderstanding in the public about the Bill. Here is an explainer:

What is the Bill?

The Second Amendment to the Nepal Citizenship Act 2006 was tabled by the government on 11 March, 2024. The lengthy list of amendments underwent a detailed discussion within the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the HoR which presented a shortened list of agreed amendments.

The HoR passed this amended list of amendments on 28 June. While the origi...