Who can become citizen of India?
Q. Who of the following can become citizen of India?
1) Person who is not a subject or citizen of any country where citizens of India are prevented from becoming subjects or citizens of that country by naturalisation.
2) A person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration.
3) A person who is married to a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India for five years before making an application for registration.- Published on 17 Feb 17a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
ANSWER: 1, 2
The Citizenship Act of 1955 provides 5 ways of acquiring citizenship, viz, birth, descent, registration, naturalization and incorporation of territory.
- By Registration - The Central Government may, on an application, register as a citizen of India any person (not being an illegal migrant) if he belongs to any of the following categories, namely :
1. a person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration;
2. a person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in any country or place outside undivided India;
3. a person who is married to a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration;
4. minor children of persons who are citizens of India;
5. a person of full age and capacity whose parents are registered as citizens of India;
6. a person of full age and capacity who, or either of his parents, was earlier citizen of independent India, and has been residing in India for one year immediately before making an application for registration;
7. a person of full age and capacity who has been registered as an overseas citizen of India for five years, and who has been residing in India for one year before making an application for registration.
- An applicant shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in India if -
(i) he has resided in India throughout the period of twelve months immediately before making an application for registration; and
(ii) he has resided in India during the eight years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months for a period of not less than six years.
- A person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents, was born in undivided India or in such other territory which became part of India after the 15th August, 1947.
- All the above categories of persons must take an oath of allegiance before they are registered as citizens of India.
- By Naturalisation - The Central Government may, on an application, grant a certificate of naturalisation to any person (not being an illegal migrant) if he possesses the following qualifications :
1. that he is not a subject or citizen of any country where citizens of India are prevented from becoming subjects or citizens of that country by naturalisation;
2. that, if he is a citizen of any country, he undertakes to renounce the citizenship of that country in the event of his application for Indian citizenship being accepted;
3. that he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India or partly the one and partly the other, throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application;
4. that during the fourteen years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India, or partly the one and partly the other, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than eleven years;
5. that he is of good character;
6. that he has an adequate knowledge of a language specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, and
7. that in the event of a certificate of naturalisation being granted to him, he intends to reside in India, or to enter into or continue in, service under a Government in India or under an international organization of which India is a member or under a society, company or body of persons established in India.
- However, the Government of India may waive all or any of the above conditions for naturalisation in the case of a person who has rendered distinguished service to the science, philosophy, art,literature,world peace or human progress.
- Every naturalised citizen must take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India.
