CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955

The Citizenship Act, 1955 is an Act of the Parliament of India that governs the acquisition and termination of citizenship of India. The Act was enacted on 30 November 1955 and came into force on 26 January 1956. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment.

The Act defines who is a citizen of India and how citizenship can be acquired or terminated. The Act also provides for the registration of citizens and the issue of citizenship certificates.

The Act has been amended several times since its enactment. The most recent amendment was made in 2019. The amendment introduced a new provision that allows the government to deprive a person of citizenship if he or she has acquired citizenship by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material fact.

The Citizenship Act, 1955 is a significant piece of legislation that governs the citizenship of India. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment to reflect the changing needs of the country. The Act is a complex piece of legislation and it is important to understand its provisions in order to determine whether or not a person is a citizen of India.

Introduction

The Citizenship Act, 1955 is an Act of the Parliament of India that governs the acquisition and termination of citizenship of India. The Act was enacted on 30 November 1955 and came into force on 26 January 1956. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment.

The Act defines who is a citizen of India and how citizenship can be acquired or terminated. The Act also provides for the registration of citizens and the issue of citizenship certificates.

The Act has been amended several times since its enactment. The most recent amendment was made in 2019. The amendment introduced a new provision that allows the government to deprive a person of citizenship if he or she has acquired citizenship by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material fact.

The Citizenship Act, 1955 is a significant piece of legislation that governs the citizenship of India. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment to reflect the changing needs of the country. The Act is a complex piece of legislation and it is important to understand its provisions in order to determine whether or not a person is a citizen of India.

Who is a citizen of India?

Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 defines who is a citizen of India. A person is a citizen of India by birth if he or she is born in India on or after 26 January 1950, and either of his or her parents was born in India or either of his or her parents is a citizen of India.

A person is also a citizen of India by descent if he or she is born outside India on or after 26 January 1950, and either of his or her parents was a citizen of India at the time of his or her birth.

A person can also acquire citizenship of India by naturalization. Naturalization is the process by which a person who is not a citizen of India can become a citizen of India. To be eligible for naturalization, a person must have resided in India for at least 11 years, must be of good character, and must intend to reside permanently in India.

How can citizenship be terminated?

Section 10 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for the termination of citizenship of India. A person’s citizenship of India can be terminated if he or she:

  • voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country;
  • renounces his or her Indian citizenship;
  • is deprived of his or her citizenship by an order of the government; or
  • is a citizen of India by naturalization and has been convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more.

Registration of citizens and issue of citizenship certificates

Section 11 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for the registration of citizens and the issue of citizenship certificates. The government may register any person as a citizen of India if it is satisfied that he or she is a citizen of India. The government may also issue a citizenship certificate to any person who is registered as a citizen of India.

Amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955

The Citizenship Act, 1955 has been amended several times since its enactment. The most recent amendment was made in 2019. The amendment introduced a new provision that allows the government to deprive a person of citizenship if he or she has acquired citizenship by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material fact.

Conclusion

The Citizenship Act, 1955 is a significant piece of legislation that governs the citizenship of India. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment to reflect the changing needs of the country.

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