Ways to Renounce Indian Citizenship

Why in news?

• Ministry of Home Affairs stated that over 1.6 lakh Indians relinquished their Indian citizenship in 2021.

About Ways to Renounce Indian Citizenship:

• Voluntary Renunciation:
  • If an Indian citizen wishes, who is of full age and capacity, he can relinquish citizenship of India by his will.
  • When a person relinquishes his citizenship, every minor child of that person also loses Indian citizenship. However, when such a child attains the age of 18, she/he may resume Indian citizenship.
• By Termination:
  • The Constitution of India provides single citizenship. It means an Indian person can only be a citizen of one country at a time.
  • If a person takes the citizenship of another country, then his Indian citizenship ends automatically. However, this provision does not apply when India is busy in war.
• Deprivation by Government:
  • The Government of India may terminate the citizenship of an Indian citizen if;
    • The citizen has disrespected the Constitution.
    • Has obtained citizenship by fraud.
    • The citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war.
    • Within 5 years of registration or naturalisation, a citizen has been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in any country.
• The citizen has been living outside India for 7 years continuously..

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. When a person renounces his Indian citizenship, every minor child of that person also loses Indian citizenship.

2. When an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically terminates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer