There are 4 ways to get Indian citizenship.
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The central government issued the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday. Now minorities (Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis) from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came before 31 December 2014 will be able to apply for citizenship. Meanwhile, the question is arising that how Muslims coming from outside can acquire Indian citizenship.
Matters related to Indian citizenship come under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Citizenship Act of 1955 (revised in 2003) Under this, a person can obtain Indian citizenship in four ways. Let us know what those methods are.
citizenship at birth
A person who is born in India on or after 26.1.1950 but before the coming into force of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 and either of whose parents is a citizen of India, will be a citizen of India by birth. However, one of the stipulations is that neither of his parents should be an illegal immigrant.
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citizenship by descent
A person who was born outside India can also get citizenship. The condition in this is that both or one of the parents of that person should be an Indian citizen and not an illegal migrant. Also, it is mandatory to register the birth of that person in the Indian Mission/Post abroad. If the parents register the child after one year of its birth, then in such a case the permission of the Indian Home Ministry is required.
On the basis of registration
According to the Home Ministry, if a person is not an illegal migrant and if he falls in any of these categories then he can be given citizenship.
- A person of Indian origin who has been living in India for 7 years before applying.
- A person of Indian origin who is normally a resident of any country or place outside undivided India.
- A person who is married to an Indian citizen and has ordinarily resided in India for 7 years before applying.
- Minor children of persons who are citizens of India.
- Whose parents are registered as Indian citizens under Section 5(A) or 6(1) of the Citizenship Act.
- A person who has been registered as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) for the last 5 years, and has been living in India for two years before applying.
Citizenship by Naturalization
A person can apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs for citizenship by naturalization under the provisions of the Third Schedule of the Citizenship Act. For naturalization a person has to fulfill certain qualifications-
- He should not be a citizen of any country where Indian citizens are prevented from becoming citizens through naturalization by the laws of the country.
- If he is a citizen of any country and he promises that after acquiring Indian citizenship, he will give up the citizenship of that country.
- The person must have resided in India or been in the service of the Indian Government for 12 consecutive months before submitting the application for citizenship to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- He must have either resided in India or been in the service of the Government of India during the fourteen years immediately preceding the 12 months before applying. Partially, in both these situations, he is required to serve a total of 11 years.
- It is essential for him to have a good character.
- He should have adequate knowledge of at least one language given in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Sanskrit, Punjabi in the Eighth Schedule. Languages like Bengali, Hindi are included.
- In case the citizen is granted naturalization, he/she intends to reside in India, or continue to serve in the Government of India.
Also read: CAA implemented in the country, understand in easy language what will change?