1. Who is a Citizen?
A citizen is a person who:
- Belongs to a particular country legally.
- Enjoys full civil and political rights (e.g., right to vote).
- Owes loyalty to that country and must follow its laws.
हिंदी: Citizen = वह व्यक्ति जो किसी देश का कानूनी सदस्य होता है।
उसे पूरे अधिकार मिलते हैं (जैसे वोट), और बदले में वह देश के प्रति वफादार रहता है और कानून मानता है।
2. Constitutional Provisions on Citizenship
- Articles 5 to 11 of the Indian Constitution deal with citizenship at the time of commencement (26 Jan 1950).
- They explained who would be a citizen of India on that day (by birth, migration from Pakistan, etc.).
- Later citizenship matters are mostly governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955 (amended several times).
हिंदी:
अनुच्छेद 5–11 = संविधान में नागरिकता से जुड़े basic प्रावधान।
विस्तार से नियम Citizenship Act, 1955 में दिए गए हैं।
3. Single Citizenship in India
- India has single citizenship – every person is only a citizen of India, not of any state.
- In contrast, in some federal countries like USA, there is dual citizenship (citizen of USA + particular State).
- Single citizenship helps in promoting unity and national integration.
हिंदी:
भारत में सिर्फ एक ही नागरिकता – “Indian Citizenship”।
कोई अलग “UP citizen” या “Tamil Nadu citizen” नहीं – यह national unity को मज़बूत करता है।
4. Modes of Acquisition of Citizenship (Simple NDA View)
Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, citizenship can be acquired mainly by:
- By Birth
- By Descent
- By Registration
- By Naturalization
- By Incorporation of Territory
हिंदी: याद रखने के लिए:
Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalization, Territory – पाँच मुख्य तरीके।
4.1 By Birth (Basic Idea)
A person born in India can be a citizen by birth subject to conditions (year-wise rules changed by amendments).
For NDA level – remember only:
- Birth in India + legal conditions = Indian citizen by birth.
4.2 By Descent
A person born outside India can be an Indian citizen if:
- His/her parents are Indian citizens (subject to Act conditions and registration in embassy/consulate in some cases).
4.3 By Registration
Certain categories of persons (e.g., persons of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens, etc.)
can apply to the Central Government and become citizens by registration.
4.4 By Naturalization
A foreigner (not originally an Indian) can become an Indian citizen by naturalization if:
- He/She has resided in India for a specified period.
- Fulfils conditions given in the Citizenship Act (like good character, knowledge of Indian language etc., as per rules).
4.5 By Incorporation of Territory
If a new territory becomes a part of India,
the people of that area may become Indian citizens automatically as per Government notification.
(e.g., when certain regions were merged with India).
हिंदी Summary:
Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalization, Territory मिलाकर “BDRNT” – ऐसा code बना कर revise कर सकते हैं।
5. Termination of Citizenship (Basic)
Citizenship can end in mainly three ways (as per the Act):
- Renunciation – citizen voluntarily gives up Indian citizenship.
- Termination – automatically ends in certain legal situations (e.g., voluntarily acquiring citizenship of another country under conditions laid down).
- Deprivation – Government may deprive a person of citizenship in some cases (fraud, disloyalty, etc.).
हिंदी:
End of citizenship – Renunciation (खुद छोड़ना), Termination (कुछ conditions से अपने आप खत्म), Deprivation (Govt द्वारा छीन लेना)।
6. Important Exam Pointers
- Articles 5–11 → Citizenship in Constitution.
- Citizenship Act, 1955 → detailed rules.
- India → Single citizenship.
- Five main acquisition methods: Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalization, Incorporation of Territory.
- Three main ways of loss: Renunciation, Termination, Deprivation.
हिंदी: ऊपर के पाँच–छह बिंदु अगर मजबूत हैं तो NDA level पर Citizenship chapter बहुत आसानी से हो जाएगा।
📘 Practice Questions (NDA Style)
1. Articles 5 to 11 of the Constitution deal with:
a) Fundamental Rights b) Citizenship c) DPSP d) Fundamental Duties
2. Detailed provisions regarding acquisition and loss of citizenship are given in:
a) Government of India Act, 1935 b) Representation of People Act, 1951 c) Citizenship Act, 1955 d) Indian Penal Code
3. India follows which type of citizenship system?
a) Dual citizenship b) Single citizenship c) Provincial citizenship d) Communal citizenship
4. A foreigner can become an Indian citizen mainly through:
a) Naturalization b) Impeachment c) Dissolution d) Referendum
5. Giving up Indian citizenship voluntarily is called:
a) Termination b) Renunciation c) Deprivation d) Suspension
a) Fundamental Rights b) Citizenship c) DPSP d) Fundamental Duties
2. Detailed provisions regarding acquisition and loss of citizenship are given in:
a) Government of India Act, 1935 b) Representation of People Act, 1951 c) Citizenship Act, 1955 d) Indian Penal Code
3. India follows which type of citizenship system?
a) Dual citizenship b) Single citizenship c) Provincial citizenship d) Communal citizenship
4. A foreigner can become an Indian citizen mainly through:
a) Naturalization b) Impeachment c) Dissolution d) Referendum
5. Giving up Indian citizenship voluntarily is called:
a) Termination b) Renunciation c) Deprivation d) Suspension
Answers:
1 – b) Citizenship
2 – c) Citizenship Act, 1955
3 – b) Single citizenship
4 – a) Naturalization
5 – b) Renunciation
1 – b) Citizenship
2 – c) Citizenship Act, 1955
3 – b) Single citizenship
4 – a) Naturalization
5 – b) Renunciation
Quick Recap | सार
Now you should be able to:
- Recall the most important ideas of this topic.
- Solve typical NDA-style questions from this chapter.
- Spot and avoid common traps used in competitive exams.
Self-check: 3–4 random questions उठा कर देखिए – अगर आसानी से हो रहे हैं, तो chapter strong है।
Common Exam Mistakes | आम गलतियाँ
- Concept ठीक से clear न करना और सीधे रटने की कोशिश करना।
- Question पूरी तरह पढ़े बिना answer mark कर देना।
- Figures, dates, या formulas को last step में verify न करना।
NDA में smart strategy यह है कि आसान वाले सवाल पहले, doubtful बाद में – और silly mistakes से बचना सबसे ज़रूरी है।