Citizenship

Citizenship defines the legal status of a person as a member of a sovereign nation, entitling them to rights and duties.
In India, Part II (Articles 5–11) of the Constitution deals with Citizenship.
The Constitution provided for single citizenship, i.e., Indian citizenship (no separate state citizenship like the USA).

📝 PYQ (BPSC 64th): Indian Constitution provides for? → Single Citizenship

Constitutional Provisions (Articles 5–11)

Article 5: Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution
Article 6: Citizenship rights of migrants from Pakistan
Article 7: Citizenship of persons who migrated to Pakistan but returned
Article 8: Citizenship of Indians residing abroad
Article 9: No dual citizenship – acquiring foreign citizenship leads to loss of Indian citizenship
Article 10: Parliament has the right to regulate citizenship
Article 11: Parliament empowered to make laws regarding acquisition and termination of citizenship

📝 Expected MCQ: Which Article deals with migrants from Pakistan? → Article 6

By Birth:
- Before 1 July 1987 → Automatically a citizen
- Between 1987–2004 → One parent must be Indian
- After 2004 → One parent Indian & other not illegal migrant
By Descent:
- Born outside India to Indian parents (subject to registration)
By Registration:
- For persons of Indian origin or married to Indian citizens
By Naturalisation:
- After residing in India for 12 years (criteria defined in Act)
By Incorporation of Territory:
- When a new territory becomes part of India (e.g., Pondicherry)

📝 PYQ (BPSC 65th): Which law governs Indian citizenship post-1950? → Citizenship Act, 1955

By Renunciation: Voluntarily giving up citizenship
By Termination: Automatically terminated when acquiring foreign citizenship
By Deprivation: If obtained by fraud, disloyalty, or residence outside India for 7 years

Grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians) from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before 31 Dec 2014
Reduced residence requirement from 11 years to 5 years
Applicable only to specified religious minorities and not applicable in tribal areas of NE states

📝 PYQ (BPSC 67th): Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 benefits refugees from which countries? → Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh

Part II → Articles 5–11
Citizenship Act → 1955
5 acquisition methods → Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalisation, Incorporation
3 loss methods → Renunciation, Termination, Deprivation
CAA 2019 → Refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh (non-Muslims)
No dual citizenship allowed
OCI introduced in 2005 (Not full citizenship)