North-eastern Indian state Assam’s cabinet yesterday (July 5, 2022) approved five communities of the state as "Indigenous Assamese Muslims" in a move that is expected to bring them social welfare benefits and financial inclusion.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry has asserted that updating of the NRC in Assam was a statutory, transparent and legal process mandated by the Supreme Court, which is “non-discriminatory” and “leaves no room for bias and injustice”.