Citizenship Restrictions Under Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India outlines the framework for citizenship, primarily in Part II (Articles 5-11).

Article 9 of the Constitution is key to understanding prohibitions related to citizenship. It states:

• "No person shall be a citizen of India by reason of being a person who is domiciled in the territories of India or any part thereof or by reason of any of the other provisions contained in this Part, if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign State."

This article implies that Indian citizenship is generally singular. If an individual voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, they are considered to have lost their Indian citizenship.

Understanding Permitted Citizenship Types

The options representing acquisition or existence of Indian citizenship are:

• Citizenship by registration: This is a recognized method under the Citizenship Act, 1955, for certain individuals.
• Citizenship by birth: Individuals born in India (subject to specific conditions) acquire citizenship by birth.
• Citizenship by naturalisation: Foreign nationals can become Indian citizens through naturalisation after meeting specified requirements.

Prohibited Citizenship Status

The core prohibition, as derived from Article 9, concerns the simultaneous holding of Indian citizenship and the citizenship of another country. Therefore, dual citizenship of another country along with Indian citizenship is prohibited.