President Ramchandra Paudel has authenticated the bill to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2006, which was passed by both houses of the federal parliament.

The president’s office confirmed the endorsement in a statement issued by spokesperson Pradeep Kumar Koirala on Saturday.

The amendment introduces provisions allowing children to acquire citizenship through their mothers. It also gives citizens the option not to mention the father’s name, surname, or address on the citizenship certificate if they wish. The House of Representatives passed the bill on June 28, and the National Assembly endorsed it on August 22 before forwarding it to the President’s Office.

Rights activists and legal experts, however, say the amendment, while progressive in intent, still falls short of ensuring equality.

Experts say that while the bill resolves some procedural issues, it fails to give mothers the same legal authority as fathers in passing on citizenship. They warn that the law retains discriminatory provisions and reinforces a patriarchal system.