Acquisition and Termination of Citizenship

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Anand Classes provides comprehensive and easy-to-understand notes on the Acquisition and Termination of Indian Citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Our study material covers all important topics including citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, and incorporation of territory, along with the conditions and procedures for termination of citizenship. These notes are specially designed for NDA aspirants to strengthen their understanding of Indian polity and score higher in the exam. Click the print button to download NDA study material and notes.

The rules regarding acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship are laid down in the Citizenship Act of 1955.
A person can acquire the citizenship of India in five ways, remembered by the short form (BRAND):

B – By Birth
R – By Registration
A – By Acquisition of Territory
N – By Naturalisation
D – By Descent

1. Citizenship by Birth

Any person born in India on or after 26 January 1950 is treated as a citizen of India by birth.

2. Citizenship by Descent

A person born outside India on or after 26 January 1950 shall be treated as a citizen of India by descent, if his father was a citizen of India at the time of his birth.

3. Citizenship by Registration

The following categories of persons can acquire Indian citizenship on application to the prescribed authority:
(a) Persons of Indian origin residing in India for 5 years before applying.
(b) Persons of Indian origin residing in any country outside India.
(c) Women married to Indian citizens.
(d) Minor children of Indian citizens.
(e) Persons of full age and capacity who are citizens of Commonwealth countries or the Republic of Ireland.

4. Citizenship by Naturalisation

A person can acquire Indian citizenship by naturalisation if:

(a) He belongs to a country that allows Indians to become citizens by naturalisation.
(b) He renounces the citizenship of his country and informs the Government of India.
(c) He has resided in India or served the Government for 12 months before applying.
(d) He has a good character.
(e) He has working knowledge of an Indian language.
(f) He intends to reside in India or serve the Government of India.

➡️ However, the Government of India may waive these conditions if the person has rendered distinguished service in fields such as philosophy, science, art, literature, or world peace.

5. Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory

If any new territory becomes a part of India, the Government of India can declare the residents of that territory as Indian citizens.

Termination of Citizenship

Citizenship of India can be terminated in three ways:

Renunciation
- A citizen may voluntarily renounce his citizenship by making a declaration in the prescribed form.
- This usually happens when a person acquires the nationality of another country.
Termination by Acquisition of Foreign Citizenship
- If a person voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country (by registration, naturalisation, or otherwise), his Indian citizenship automatically ends.
Deprivation by the Government of India
- The Central Government can deprive a naturalised citizen of his citizenship if:
  - It was obtained by fraud, false representation, or concealment of facts.
  - The person shows disloyalty to the Constitution of India.
  - The person engages in trade with enemy countries during war.
  - The person is sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years or more within 5 years of naturalisation.
  - The person has been residing abroad continuously for more than 7 years.

FAQs on Acquisition and Termination of Citizenship For NDA Preparation

Q1. What is the Citizenship Act of 1955 and why is it important for NDA exam preparation?

Answer:
The Citizenship Act of 1955 provides the detailed rules and procedures for the acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship. It defines how a person can become a citizen of India and under what circumstances citizenship can be lost. For NDA aspirants, this Act is very important because questions related to citizenship, Indian polity, and the Constitution frequently appear in the NDA written exam.

Q2. What are the five ways of acquiring Indian citizenship?

Answer:
Indian citizenship can be acquired in five ways, remembered as BRAND:

B – By Birth
R – By Registration
A – By Acquisition of Territory
N – By Naturalisation
D – By Descent

This classification is often asked in NDA General Studies and Polity questions.

Q3. Who is considered a citizen of India by birth?

Answer:
Any person born in India on or after 26 January 1950 is regarded as a citizen of India by birth. This is a direct and simple way of acquiring citizenship. Such factual points are frequently tested in the NDA polity section.

Q4. What does citizenship by descent mean?

Answer:
Citizenship by descent applies to a person born outside India on or after 26 January 1950, provided his father was an Indian citizen at the time of birth. This provision helps Indian-origin families maintain citizenship even if they reside abroad. Understanding such provisions is crucial for NDA exam polity preparation.

Q5. How can a person acquire Indian citizenship by registration?

Answer:
Citizenship by registration is granted to:

Persons of Indian origin living in India for 5 years.
Persons of Indian origin living outside India.
Women married to Indian citizens.
Minor children of Indian citizens.
Citizens of Commonwealth nations or Ireland.

This is a frequently asked topic in NDA GS Paper 2 (Polity).

Q6. What are the main conditions for acquiring citizenship by naturalisation?

Answer:
A person can acquire citizenship by naturalisation if he:

Renounces foreign citizenship.
Resides in India for at least 12 months before application.
Possesses good character.
Has working knowledge of an Indian language.
Intends to reside in India.

These points are very useful for NDA exam polity notes.

Q7. How is citizenship acquired through incorporation of territory?

Answer:
If a new territory becomes part of India, the Government of India can declare residents of that territory as citizens of India. For example, people of Goa (1961) and Sikkim (1975) became Indian citizens in this manner. Such examples are very important for NDA history and polity questions.

Q8. How can Indian citizenship be terminated?

Answer:
Citizenship can be terminated in three ways:

Renunciation – Voluntary declaration by a citizen to give up citizenship.
Termination – Automatic loss if a person acquires citizenship of another country.
Deprivation – The Government of India can cancel citizenship if obtained by fraud, disloyalty, or criminal activities.

This topic is a highly expected area in NDA polity MCQs.

MCQs on Acquisition and Termination of Citizenship

Q1. The rules regarding acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship are laid down in:

a) Indian Constitution, 1950
b) Citizenship Act, 1955
c) Representation of People Act, 1951
d) Government of India Act, 1935

Answer: b) Citizenship Act, 1955
Explanation: The Citizenship Act of 1955 governs all procedures related to acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship, an important topic for NDA polity preparation.

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a method of acquiring Indian citizenship?

a) By Birth
b) By Registration
c) By Marriage
d) By Descent

Answer: c) By Marriage
Explanation: Marriage alone does not grant citizenship. Women married to Indian citizens can apply for citizenship by registration. Questions like this appear in NDA GS and polity sections.

Q3. What does the acronym BRAND stand for in the context of citizenship?

a) INDIA
b) BRAND
c) RIGHTS
d) CROWN

Answer: b) BRAND
Explanation: Citizenship of India can be acquired in five ways: B – By Birth, R – By Registration, A – By Acquisition of Territory, N – By Naturalisation, D – By Descent, useful for NDA exam quick revision.

Q4. A person born outside India after 26 January 1950 is a citizen by descent if:

a) His mother is an Indian citizen
b) His father was an Indian citizen at the time of birth
c) Both parents are Indian citizens
d) He resides in India for 5 years

Answer: b) His father was an Indian citizen at the time of birth
Explanation: Citizenship by descent is granted if the father was an Indian citizen at the time of the child’s birth. This is a factual point for NDA polity MCQs.

Q5. Which of the following is NOT a condition for citizenship by naturalisation?

a) Knowledge of an Indian language
b) Good character
c) Residing in India for at least 12 months
d) Owning property in India

Answer: d) Owning property in India
Explanation: Ownership of property is not required. Other conditions like good character, language knowledge, renunciation of foreign citizenship are mandatory. This is commonly tested in NDA polity MCQs.

Q6. Residents of Goa became Indian citizens in 1961 by:

a) By Registration
b) By Descent
c) By Incorporation of Territory
d) By Naturalisation

Answer: c) By Incorporation of Territory
Explanation: When Goa became part of India, residents were granted citizenship through incorporation of territory, an important historical + polity fact for NDA exams.

Q7. Citizenship can be terminated in how many ways under the Citizenship Act, 1955?

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

Answer: b) 3
Explanation: Citizenship can be terminated by: Renunciation, Termination, or Deprivation. This is a high-yield fact for NDA polity preparation.

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