GS 2 Mains Practice Questions: Citizenship | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Question 1: Discuss the constitutional framework of citizenship in India and its evolution through amendments. (150 words)

Answer: 

Introduction

The Indian Constitution’s citizenship provisions, outlined in Articles 5–11, balance inclusivity with national sovereignty. They define who qualifies as a citizen while safeguarding India’s territorial integrity. Over time, amendments have adapted these provisions to address emerging challenges.

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Constitutional Framework

• Articles 5–8: These define citizenship at the Constitution’s commencement, covering domiciled residents, migrants from Pakistan, and overseas Indians, emphasizing inclusivity.

• Articles 9–11: These regulate voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, termination, and Parliament’s legislative powers, ensuring sovereignty.

Evolution Through Amendments

• Citizenship Act, 1955: Established rules for acquiring and losing citizenship through birth, descent, registration, naturalization, or incorporation.

• Amendments (1986, 2003, 2019): Tightened criteria (e.g., 1986 shifted from jus soli to jus sanguinis) and introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, granting citizenship to specific religious minorities from neighboring countries.

Balancing Inclusivity and Sovereignty

• Inclusivity: Provisions accommodate diverse groups, like Partition migrants.

• Sovereignty: Restrictions on foreign citizenship protect national interests.

Conclusion

India’s citizenship framework blends inclusivity with sovereignty, evolving through amendments to address migration and security concerns. While flexible, it faces debates over equity and secularism.

Question 2: Critically examine the implications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 on the constitutional framework of citizenship in India. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, amended the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant citizenship to persecuted religious minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, entering India before December 31, 2014. Its implications on India’s constitutional framework, particularly equality and secularism, have sparked intense debate.

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Implications on Constitutional Framework

• Equality (Article 14): The CAA’s exclusion of Muslims raises concerns about violating equality before the law. Critics argue it discriminates based on religion, undermining the Constitution’s non-discriminatory ethos.

• Secularism: As a basic structure, secularism ensures religious neutrality. The CAA’s religion-specific criteria appear to prioritize certain communities, challenging the Preamble’s secular commitment, as noted in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994).

• Citizenship Provisions: The CAA modifies Article 11’s legislative scope by fast-tracking citizenship for select groups, bypassing standard naturalization processes, which critics claim creates unequal pathways.

Critical Analysis

• Positive Aspects: Supporters argue the CAA addresses humanitarian needs, offering refuge to persecuted minorities, aligning with India’s historical role as a sanctuary.

• Challenges: The exclusion of Muslims and other groups (e.g., Tamils from Sri Lanka) risks alienating communities and fueling communal tensions. Its linkage with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) raises fears of statelessness.

• Judicial Scrutiny: Pending Supreme Court challenges question the CAA’s constitutionality, with the Court likely to evaluate its alignment with Articles 14, 15, and 21.

Conclusion

The CAA, 2019, reshapes India’s citizenship framework by prioritizing specific religious groups, raising concerns about equality and secularism. While addressing humanitarian concerns, its selective approach risks undermining constitutional values. Judicial rulings and inclusive policies are needed to balance humanitarian goals with India’s secular ethos.

Question 3 : Analyze the role of Articles 5-11 in addressing issues like migration and statelessness. (250 words)

Answer: 

Introduction​

Articles 5–11 of the Indian Constitution provide the framework for citizenship, shaped by the historical context of Partition and contemporary challenges like migration and statelessness. These provisions address eligibility, acquisition, and termination, balancing inclusivity with national interests.

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Historical Context

• Partition and Migration: Articles 5–7 were crafted to address mass migration during Partition. Article 5 granted citizenship to those domiciled in India, while Articles 6–7 accommodated migrants from Pakistan, ensuring their integration.

• Overseas Indians: Article 8 allowed citizenship for Indians abroad, reflecting inclusivity for the diaspora.

Addressing Migration

• Article 6: Provided citizenship to those migrating from Pakistan before July 19, 1948, or later with intent to settle, addressing immediate post-Partition migration.

• Article 11 and Citizenship Act, 1955: Parliament’s legislative powers enabled laws like the 1986 amendment, tightening citizenship criteria to manage illegal migration, especially in Assam.

Tackling Statelessness

• Article 9: Prevents statelessness by restricting voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship without renouncing Indian citizenship.

• Registration and Naturalization: The Citizenship Act, under Article 11, allows stateless persons to apply for citizenship, though bureaucratic delays pose challenges.

• CAA, 2019: Grants citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, reducing statelessness for specific groups, but its selective nature excludes others, risking statelessness.

Contemporary Challenges

• Illegal Migration: Influxes in border states like Assam create tensions, addressed through mechanisms like the NRC, though implementation flaws have led to exclusion errors.

• Judicial Role: In Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha v. Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court emphasized regulated migration to protect national interests.

Conclusion

Articles 5–11 provide a robust framework to address migration and statelessness, rooted in historical needs. While they ensure inclusivity and security, challenges like illegal migration and selective policies require balanced reforms to uphold constitutional values.

Question 4: Discuss the grounds for termination of citizenship under the Indian Constitution and their alignment with democratic principles. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Indian Constitution, through the Citizenship Act, 1955, under Article 11, outlines grounds for termination of citizenship to protect national interests. These provisions balance individual rights with democratic principles like sovereignty and fairness.

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Grounds for Termination

• Voluntary Renunciation (Section 8): Citizens can renounce citizenship voluntarily, ensuring personal freedom but requiring formal procedures to avoid statelessness.

• Acquisition of Foreign Citizenship (Section 9): Acquiring another country’s citizenship automatically terminates Indian citizenship, safeguarding national loyalty.

• Deprivation (Section 10): Citizenship can be revoked for fraud, disloyalty, or actions against national interests, such as aiding an enemy state.

Alignment with Democratic Principles

• Sovereignty: Termination for disloyalty or foreign citizenship protects national security, a core democratic value.

• Fair Process: Deprivation requires due process, aligning with Article 21’s right to a fair hearing, as seen in Union of India v. Ghaus Mohammad (1961).

• Challenges: Ambiguities in ‘disloyalty’ risk arbitrary application, necessitating judicial oversight.

Conclusion

The grounds for termination of citizenship uphold national interests while aligning with democratic principles of fairness and sovereignty. Judicial scrutiny ensures these provisions remain balanced, protecting individual rights.

Question 5 (14 Oct, 2025): Evaluate the challenges in implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and its impact on India’s constitutional ethos. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The National Register of Citizens (NRC), aimed at identifying legal citizens, particularly in Assam, has sparked debates over its implementation and alignment with India’s constitutional ethos. Rooted in the Citizenship Act, 1955, it seeks to address illegal migration but raises concerns about human rights and constitutional values.

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Challenges in Implementation

• Complex Documentation: The NRC’s requirement for legacy documents, like pre-1971 records, is challenging for marginalized groups, leading to exclusion of genuine citizens.

• Bureaucratic Issues: Inefficiencies and errors in Assam’s NRC process (2019) left millions in limbo, creating administrative chaos and delays in appeals.

• Social Tensions: The process has fueled communal polarization, with accusations of targeting specific communities, undermining social cohesion.

Impact on Constitutional Ethos

• Equality (Article 14): The NRC’s inconsistent application risks violating equality, as seen in Assam, where excluded individuals faced discrimination, challenging the Preamble’s justice vision.

• Secularism: Perceived targeting of minorities, especially Muslims, conflicts with the Preamble’s secular ethos, as upheld in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994).

• Human Rights (Article 21): Exclusion from the NRC threatens the right to life and dignity, with stateless individuals facing detention or deportation risks.

Critical Evaluation

• Positive Intent: The NRC aims to protect national security and manage migration, aligning with sovereignty in the Preamble.

• Negative Consequences: Exclusion errors and lack of clear rehabilitation mechanisms violate justice and fraternity, creating humanitarian crises.

• Judicial Oversight: The Supreme Court’s monitoring of Assam’s NRC emphasizes fair implementation, but unresolved cases highlight gaps.

Conclusion

The NRC’s implementation faces challenges like documentation issues and social tensions, impacting India’s constitutional ethos of equality, secularism, and justice. Transparent processes and judicial safeguards are essential to align the NRC with constitutional values while addressing migration concerns.

Question 6: Analyze the feasibility and implications of introducing dual citizenship in India, with reference to global practices. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

Dual citizenship, allowing individuals to hold citizenship of two countries, remains contentious in India’s constitutional framework. Unlike countries like the USA and Canada, India prohibits it under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Analyzing its feasibility and implications reveals complex challenges.

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Feasibility

• Legal Framework: Amending Section 9, which terminates citizenship upon acquiring foreign citizenship, would be required, necessitating parliamentary consensus.

• Global Practices: Countries like the USA allow dual citizenship, benefiting diaspora contributions, but India’s security concerns and population size complicate adoption.

Implications

• Positive Impacts: Dual citizenship could boost remittances and diaspora investment, strengthening economic ties, as seen in Canada’s model.

• Challenges: It risks divided loyalties and complicates national security, especially in border regions. Administrative burdens in tracking dual citizens are significant.

• OCI Scheme: The Overseas Citizenship of India offers partial benefits, balancing diaspora engagement without full dual citizenship.

Conclusion

Introducing dual citizenship in India is feasible but faces security and administrative hurdles. Global practices suggest economic benefits, but India’s context requires cautious reforms to balance constitutional values and national interests.