Who can acquire Indian Citizenship?
Q. Which are the modes of acquiring Indian Citizenship?
1) Naturalization
2) Descent
3) Acquiring Foreign Territory- Published on 17 Feb 17a. 1, 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
The Citizenship Act of 1955 provides5 ways of acquiring citizenship, viz, birth, descent, registration, naturalization and incorporation of territory.
- By Birth -
1. A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents.
2. A person born in India on or after 1st July 1987 is considered as a citizen of India only if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his/her birth.
3. Further, those born in India on or after 3rd December 2004 are considered citizens of India only if both of their parents are citizens of India or one of whose parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of their birth.
4. The children of foreign diplomats posted in India and enemy aliens cannot acquire Indian citizenship by birth.
- By Descent -
1. A person born outside India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 10th December1992 is a citizen of India by descent, if his father was a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
2. A person born outside India on or after 10th December 1992 is considered as a citizen of India if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
3. From 3rd December 2004 onwards, a person born outside India shall not be a citizen of India by descent, unless his birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of the date of birth or with the permission of the Central Government, after the expiry of the said period.
4. An application, for registration of the birth of a minor child, to an Indian consulate shall be accompanied by an undertaking in writing from the parents of such minor child that he or she does not hold the passport of another country.
- By Incorporation of Territory -
1. If any foreign territory becomes a part of India, the Government of India specifies the persons who shall be citizens of India amongst the people of the territory.
2. Such persons become the citizens of India from the notified date.
3. For example, when Pondicherry became a part of India, the Government of India issued the Citizenship (Pondicherry) Order, 1962, under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
