ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship Act 1955 provides various modes for acquisition of citizenship.
Citizenship by birth – Person born after Jan 26, 1950 is a citizen by birth.
Citizenship by descent – Person born outside India on or after Jan 26, 1950 is a citizen, if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of person’s birth.
Citizenship by Registration – application is made before the prescribed authority e.g. persons who are married to citizen of India.
Citizenship by naturalization – a foreigner who applies for naturalization to the GOI can become citizen.
Citizenship by incorporations of Territory.
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP
The Act of 1955 provides 3 ways by which citizenship may be lost. These are:
- Renunciation– voluntary act.
- Termination– By operation of law when one acquires citizenship of another country.
- Deprivation– compulsory termination by and order of GOI, cases when citizenship is acquired by fraud or a person shows disaffection or disloyalty to the state.
The Indian government’s Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) programs are often incorrectly described as offering “dual nationality” or “dual citizenship.” This is not true, as India does not recognize dual citizenship. The OCI and PIO programs do offer card holders some travel and residency privileges.
