Test: Citizenship - UPSC MCQ

Let's analyze each statement to determine its accuracy:

1. The Indian Constitution provides for both single and dual citizenship.

- This statement is incorrect. The Indian Constitution provides for single citizenship only. Unlike federal countries such as the USA and Switzerland, India does not have a provision for dual citizenship. Hence, this statement is false.

2. Article 6 of the Constitution deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan.

- This statement is correct. Article 6 specifically addresses the rights of citizenship for individuals who migrated to India from Pakistan, detailing the conditions under which they would be considered citizens of India at the commencement of the Constitution.

3. Article 9 states that no person shall be a citizen of India if they have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign State.

- This statement is correct. Article 9 explicitly mentions that a person will not be deemed a citizen of India if they have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state.

Given the analysis, Statements 2 and 3 are correct, while Statement 1 is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

Both statements are accurate. Statement-I correctly mentions the introduction of the OCI scheme in August 2005 through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955. Statement-II is also correct as it explains the purpose of the OCI scheme, which was to cater to the demand for dual citizenship among the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed nations. Hence, option (a) is the correct choice.

To be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, individuals must be citizens of another country but were eligible to become citizens of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution. This provision allows for individuals with specific connections to India to obtain OCI status, providing them with certain benefits and privileges.

1. Statement 1 is correct. According to the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, one of the qualifications for acquiring citizenship by naturalization is that the applicant must have resided in India or been in Government service for a continuous period of 12 months immediately before making the application, or during 7 years prior to these 12 months, the applicant must have resided or been in Government service for not less than four years.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Citizenship by incorporation of territory is not automatically granted to all residents of the new territory. The Government of India specifies which persons of the incorporated territory shall be citizens of India.

3. Statement 3 is correct. A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950, is a citizen of India by descent if either of their parents is a citizen of India at the time of their birth.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3 only. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

1. By Birth - Correct. A person born in India on or after January 26, 1950, with at least one parent being an Indian citizen is correctly matched.

2. By Descent - Incorrect. According to the Indian Citizenship Act, a person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950, is a citizen by descent if either of the parents is an Indian citizen at the time of that person's birth, not the grandparent.

3. By Registration - Correct. This is correctly matched as a person of Indian origin who has been ordinarily resident in India for 5 years before applying can acquire citizenship through registration.

4. By Naturalization - Incorrect. While it is true that one of the conditions for naturalization includes residing in India for at least 12 months before applying, the complete requirement for naturalization involves additional qualifications such as renouncing previous citizenship, good character, and knowledge of an Indian language.

Hence, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, making the correct answer Option B: Only two pairs.

In 1958, an armed uprising took place in Tibet against China’s occupation. This was suppressed by the Chinese forces. Sensing that the situation had become worse, in 1959, the Dalai Lama crossed over into the Indian border and sought asylum which was granted. A large number of Tibetans also sought refuge in India.

The 1951 Geneva Convention was the main international instrument on refugee laws and provides for the rights of refugees and duties of states towards refugees.

1. Article 5: Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution. This statement is incorrectly matched. Article 5 deals with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, not the rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan.

2. Article 6: Rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan. This statement is incorrectly matched. Article 6 deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan, not citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.

3. Article 7: Rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan. This statement is correctly matched. Article 7 deals with the rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan.

4. Article 8: Rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India. This statement is correctly matched. Article 8 deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India.

Thus, three pairs (Article 7 and Article 8) are correctly matched.

In 1990s, the Black people got equal citizenship rights after a long struggle.

Statement-I is accurate as per the provisions mentioned regarding the rights entitled to an overseas citizen of India cardholder. However, Statement-II is incorrect as OCI does not grant political rights similar to those enjoyed by Indian citizens. In fact, one of the significant distinctions of OCI is that it does not confer political rights, such as the right to vote, hold public office, or participate in political activities, which are exclusive to Indian citizens. Thus, while Statement-I aligns with the provisions of OCI rights, Statement-II misrepresents the political nature of OCI status.