📘 Q.11 IAS Prelims 2021 — Polity & Governance: Citizenship & Domicile
🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📍 The Question:
With reference to India, consider the following statements:
- There is only one citizenship and one domicile.
- A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State.
- A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 3
✅ Correct Answer: (a)
🔎 Curiosity Raiser (UPSC fundamentals test)
UPSC is checking whether you can clearly separate Indian citizenship principles from those of federal countries like the USA, and whether you know the conditions of acquisition and loss of citizenship.
🧠 Core Concept Tested
Single citizenship, domicile, eligibility for President, and deprivation of citizenship
🔍 Classroom Explanation (UPSC Prelims Focused)
Statement 1 ✅
- India follows single citizenship:
- Unlike the USA, there is no dual citizenship for Indian citizens.
- India also follows single domicile:
- A person can have only one domicile at a time.
👉 Statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2 ❌
- Article 58 of the Constitution lays down qualifications for the President.
- It does not restrict the office to citizens by birth.
- A naturalised citizen is equally eligible to become the President of India.
👉 Statement 2 is incorrect.
Statement 3 ❌
- Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, citizenship can be deprived on several grounds, such as:
- citizenship obtained by fraud,
- disloyalty to the Constitution,
- voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship,
- unlawful communication with an enemy state.
👉 Statement 3 is incorrect.
❌ Why the final answer is (a)
- Only Statement 1 is correct.
- Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
- Hence, option (a).
📘 Enrich Notes (Prelims Value Add)
- Single Citizenship → Promotes national unity
- Domicile → Relevant for reservation and service matters, not citizenship
- President’s eligibility → Citizenship is enough; birth not required
- Loss of citizenship → Permitted under Citizenship Act, 1955
📌 Prelims Recall Line
India has one citizenship, one domicile, but citizenship is not irrevocable.
🧘♂️ IAS Monk Whisper
Unity flows from single citizenship,
but loyalty sustains it.
