Interpretation
Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 deals with interpretation. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "a Government in India" means the Central Government or a State Government. The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1955.
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "a Government in India" means the Central Government or a State Government.
1[(b) "illegal migrant" means a foreigner who has entered into India--
(i) without a valid passport or other travel documents and such other document or authority as may be prescribed by or under any law in that behalf; or
(ii) with a valid passport or other travel documents and such other document or authority as may be prescribed by or under any law in that behalf but remains therein beyond the permitted period of time;]
2[Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 and who has been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 (34 of 1920) or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946) or any rule or order made there under, shall not be treated as illegal migrant for the purposes of this Act;]
(d) "Indian consulate means the office of any consular officer of the Government of India where a register of births is kept, or where there is no such office, such office as may be prescribed;
(e) "minor" means a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years;
3[(ee) "Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder" means a person registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder by the Central Government under section 7A;]
(f) "person" does not include any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not;
(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
4* * * * *
(h) "undivided India" means India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, as originally enacted.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person born aboard a registered ship or aircraft, or aboard an unregistered ship or aircraft of the government of any country, shall be deemed to have been born in the place in which the ship or aircraft was registered or, as the case may be, in that country.
(3) Any reference in this Act to the status or description of the father of a person at the time of that person's birth shall, in relation to a person born after the death of his father, be construed as a reference to the status or description of the father at the time of the father's death; and where that death occurred before, and the birth occurs after, the commencement of this Act, the status or description which would have been applicable to the father had he died after the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be the status or description applicable to him at the time of his death.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be of full age if he is not a minor and of full capacity if he is not of unsound mind.
Section 2, The Citizenship Act, 1955 (Act 57 of 1955).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Questions about Section 2
What does Section 2 of the Citizenship Act deal with?
Section 2 of the Citizenship Act is headed "Interpretation". In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "a Government in India" means the Central Government or a State Government.
How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Citizenship Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Citizenship Act 1955 2, section 2 Citizenship Act 1955, section 2 of the Citizenship Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 7A (Registration of Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder), Passport ( Entry into India) Act 3 (Power to make rules), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.
When did Section 2 of the Citizenship Act come into force?
Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, cited as Citizenship Act 1955 2, came into force on 30 Dec 1955, having been enacted on 30 Dec 1955. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
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. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.