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Act57
Enacted 1955

The Citizenship Act, 1955

In force 27 sections Home Affairs

An Act to provide for the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship.

Act 57 of 1955 Enacted 30 Dec 1955 In force 30 Dec 1955 Department Department of Internal Security

Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Internal Security · Other Acts of 1955

Preamble

THE CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955

ACT No. 57 OF 19551

[30th December, 1955.] An Act to provide for the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

What this Act covers

Summary of the Citizenship Act, 1955

Key Provisions:

1. Acquisition of Citizenship

The Act provides various modes through which a person may acquire Indian citizenship:

o By Birth: Citizenship is granted to persons born in India subject to conditions prescribed under the Act and subsequent amendments.

o By Descent: Persons born outside India may acquire citizenship if their parents are Indian citizens, subject to legal requirements.

o By Registration: Certain categories of persons, such as persons of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens, and certain residents of India, may obtain citizenship through registration.

o By Naturalisation: A foreign national may acquire Indian citizenship after fulfilling prescribed conditions, including residence requirements.

o By Incorporation of Territory: Persons belonging to territories that become part of India may be granted citizenship through notification by the Government.

2. Citizenship by Registration and Naturalisation

o The Act empowers the Central Government to register eligible persons as citizens of India.

o It provides conditions and procedures for granting citizenship through naturalisation.

3. Termination of Citizenship

Indian citizenship may be terminated through:

o Renunciation: A citizen may voluntarily give up Indian citizenship.

o Termination: Citizenship may cease when an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country.

o Deprivation: The Central Government may deprive a person of citizenship in certain circumstances, such as obtaining citizenship by fraud or showing disloyalty towards India.

4. Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

o The Act provides for registration of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and specifies rights and restrictions applicable to OCI cardholders.

o OCI status provides certain benefits to persons of Indian origin but does not amount to full citizenship.

5. Citizenship Rules and Procedures

o The Central Government is empowered to make rules for implementing the provisions of the Act.

o It provides mechanisms for applications, registration, verification, and maintenance of citizenship records.

Sections

Type to filter. 27 sections.

  1. 1Short title
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Citizenship by birth
  4. 4Citizenship by descent
  5. 5Citizenship by registration
  6. 6Citizenship by naturalization
  7. 6ASpecial provisions as to citizenship of persons covered by the Assam Accord
  8. 6BSpecial provisions as to citizenship of person covered by proviso to clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2
  9. 7Citizenship by incorporation of territory
  10. 7ARegistration of Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder
  11. 7BConferment of rights on Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder
  12. 7CRenunciation of Overseas Citizen of India Card
  13. 7DCancellation of registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder
  14. 8Renunciation of citizenship
  15. 9Termination of citizenship
  16. 10Deprivation of citizenship
  17. 11[Omitted.]
  18. 12[Omitted.]
  19. 13Certificate of Citizenship in case of doubt
  20. 14Disposal of application under sections 5, 6 and 7A
  21. 14AIssue of national identity cards
  22. 15Revision
  23. 15AReview
  24. 16Delegation of powers
  25. 17Offences
  26. 18Power to make rules
  27. 19[Repealed.]

Schedules

This Act has 4 schedules. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.

Amending Acts

4 Acts amending this enactment, passed by Parliament of India. The text above is the consolidated text as published.

  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 200357 of 2004
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 198657 of 1986
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 195757 of 1985
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 195757 of 1957

Rules made under this Act

27 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.

  • Notification dated 10th January 2020 under Citizenship(Amendment) Act, 20192020
  • Issuance of OCI Card to the Netherlands nationals of Indian origin (Suriname Hindustani Community) who are fifth and sixth generation of descendants of Indians who were taken to Suriname as indentured labor during British colonial rule2019
  • Allocation of jurisdiction for issuance of OCI card in respect of Gujarat State to FRRO Ahmedabad2018
  • Citizenship Amendment Rules 20182018
  • Citizenship(Second) Amendment Rules 20182018
  • Extension of delegation of power to Grant Citizenship to Seven States & 16 Districts2018
  • Notification dated 30 July 2018 under Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 20032018
  • Quantum of fees to be charged for conversion of OCI card in lieu of valid PIO card2018
  • eligibility for appointment as teaching faculty in Indian Institute of Science and new AIMS set up under PMSSY2018
  • Delegation of Power to Head of Mission in Mauritius2017
  • Eligibility of persons registered as OCI cardholder for appointment as teaching faculty2017
  • Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 20162016
  • Delegation of power to 7 States2016
  • 14864 Bangladesh Citi. Notification2015
  • Delegation of Power to the Heads of Indian Mission,19552015
  • Delegation of power to Indian Mission dt 17-06-20152015
  • PIO Card holder deemed to be OCI card holder2015
  • Exception of manual acceptance pak-afghan dt 17-11-142014
  • Citizenship(Amendment) Rules 20132013
  • Order of 2013 w.r.t. Citizenship (Registraiton of Citizens and issue of national identity Cards) Rules, 20032013
  • Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Amendmennt Rules 20102010
  • Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Amendment Rules, 20092009
  • Citizenship Rule-20092009
  • Rights to which the persons registered as OCI entitled to2009
  • These rules may be called the Citizenship Rules, 2009.2009
  • Rights of OCIs2005
  • The Citizenship (Registraiton of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 20032003

Related Acts

Ordinances

India Code records no parent Act for an ordinance, so these are tied to this Act by their own titles and their dates rather than by anything the source states. An ordinance is made when Parliament is not sitting and lapses six weeks into the next session unless it is enacted.

  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015amended this Act · 2015
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance, 2005amended this Act · 2005

All Ordinances

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 27 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.