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Quick recap: Salient features and citizenship on one page

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಣೆ

Salient features and citizenship · Quick recap · Fact-checked on · how we check

Written with AI from the sources listed at the bottom of this page, then fact-checked by a separate AI.

Both parts condensed for quick revision: the Constitution's adoption, length, sources and main features, the added Schedules, Articles 5 to 11, the ways of gaining and losing citizenship, OCI, the 2019 amendment and Section 6A, with a one-table overview and eight mixed questions.

Each idea is explained first in Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ), ending with the English and Hindi exam terms, followed by the same point in exam English. UPSC Prelims is in English or Hindi, so understand it in Kannada and revise it in English.

ಈ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯ ಎರಡು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ: ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ಎಂಥ ದಾಖಲೆ, ನಾಗರಿಕ ಯಾರು. ಸಂವಿಧಾನ 26 ನವೆಂಬರ್ 1949ರಂದು ಅಂಗೀಕಾರ, 26 ಜನವರಿ 1950ರಂದು ಪೂರ್ಣ ಜಾರಿ; ಪೌರತ್ವ, ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಉಪಬಂಧಗಳು ಅಂಗೀಕಾರದ ದಿನವೇ ಜಾರಿ (ವಿಧಿ 394). ವಿಶ್ವದ ಅತಿ ಉದ್ದದ ಲಿಖಿತ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸಂವಿಧಾನ: ಆರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೀಠಿಕೆ, 395 ವಿಧಿಗಳು, 22 ಭಾಗಗಳು, 8 ಅನುಸೂಚಿಗಳು; ಈಗ 25 ಭಾಗಗಳು, 12 ಅನುಸೂಚಿಗಳು. ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಮೂಲ 1935ರ ಭಾರತ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ; ಉಳಿದ ಭಾಗಗಳು ಇತರ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವಗಳಿಂದ — ಬ್ರಿಟನ್‌ನಿಂದ ಸಂಸದೀಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ಅಮೆರಿಕದಿಂದ ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು, ಐರ್ಲೆಂಡ್‌ನಿಂದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ತತ್ವಗಳು, ಕೆನಡಾದಿಂದ ಬಲಿಷ್ಠ ಕೇಂದ್ರ, ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದಿಂದ ಸಮವರ್ತಿ ಪಟ್ಟಿ. ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಅಡುಗೆಯವನು ಹಲವು ಮನೆಯ ಅಡುಗೆ ಕಲಿತು ತನ್ನ ರುಚಿಗೆ ಬದಲಿಸಿದಂತೆ. (→ English: Constitution · हिन्दी: संविधान)

In exam EnglishThis chapter answers two basic questions: what kind of document the Constitution is, and who is a citizen. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came fully into force on 26 January 1950, though provisions such as those on citizenship and elections took effect on adoption (Article 394). It is the longest written national constitution: a Preamble, 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 8 Schedules at the start; 25 Parts and 12 Schedules now. Its largest single source is the Government of India Act, 1935, while working parts came from other democracies: parliamentary government from Britain, Fundamental Rights from the United States, Directive Principles from Ireland, a strong Centre from Canada and the Concurrent List from Australia.

ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ಕಠಿಣತೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಯತೆಯ ಮಿಶ್ರಣ. ಕೆಲವು ಉಪಬಂಧಗಳು ವಿಧಿ 368ರ ಹೊರಗೆ ಸರಳ ಬಹುಮತದಿಂದ ಬದಲಾಗುತ್ತವೆ (ಹೊಸ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳು, ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್ತುಗಳು); ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನವಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಬಹುಮತ; ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ಸಮತೋಲನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದವಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಧ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಅನುಮೋದನೆಯೂ ಬೇಕು. ಮೂಲ ರಚನೆಯನ್ನು ನಾಶ ಮಾಡಲಾಗದು (ಕೇಶವಾನಂದ ಭಾರತಿ, 1973). ವಿಧಿ 1 'ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ': ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಹಂಚಿಕೆ ಇದೆ, ಆದರೆ ಬಲಿಷ್ಠ ಕೇಂದ್ರ, ಏಕ ಪೌರತ್ವ, ಏಕೀಕೃತ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗ, ತುರ್ತು ಅಧಿಕಾರಗಳು — ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ 'ಅರೆ-ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ'; ಬೊಮ್ಮಾಯಿ (1994) ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಮೂಲ ರಚನೆಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿಸಿತು. ಸಂಸದೀಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ — ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಲೋಕಸಭೆಗೆ ಸಾಮೂಹಿಕವಾಗಿ ಹೊಣೆ (75(3)); ಆದರೂ ಸಂಸತ್ತಿಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗ ಪರಾಮರ್ಶೆಯ ಮಿತಿ. (→ English: basic structure · हिन्दी: मूल ढांचा)

In exam EnglishThe design blends rigidity and flexibility. Some provisions change by a simple majority outside Article 368 (new States, Legislative Councils), most need a special majority, and provisions on the federal balance also need ratification by half the States; the basic structure cannot be destroyed (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973). Article 1 calls India a 'Union of States': there is a federal division of powers, but a strong Centre, single citizenship, an integrated judiciary and emergency powers, so the system is called quasi-federal, while S.R. Bommai (1994) made federalism part of the basic structure. Government is parliamentary, with the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75(3)), yet Parliament is limited by judicial review.

ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು ಮೂರು ಪದರ: ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು (ಭಾಗ III), ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾರಿಯಾಗದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ತತ್ವಗಳು (ಭಾಗ IV), ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಗಳು (ಭಾಗ IVA, 42ನೇ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ, 1976). ಭಾರತ ಜಾತ್ಯತೀತ ರಾಜ್ಯ; ಮತದಾನ ಸಾರ್ವತ್ರಿಕ ವಯಸ್ಕ ಮತದಾನದ ಹಕ್ಕಿನ ಮೇಲೆ (ವಿಧಿ 326) — ವಯಸ್ಸು 61ನೇ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿಯಿಂದ (1988) 21ರಿಂದ 18ಕ್ಕೆ. ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಸಾಂವಿಧಾನಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು, ತುರ್ತು ಉಪಬಂಧಗಳು (352, 356, 360), ಪಂಚಾಯಿತಿಗಳು-ನಗರಸಭೆಗಳು (73, 74ನೇ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿಗಳು, 1992), ಸಹಕಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳು (97ನೇ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ, 2011) — ಎಲ್ಲ ಸೇರಿ ರಚನೆ ಪೂರ್ಣ. 1950ರ ನಂತರ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಅನುಸೂಚಿಗಳು ಸೇರಿದವು: ಒಂಬತ್ತನೇ (1ನೇ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ, 1951), ಹತ್ತನೇ (52ನೇ, 1985), ಹನ್ನೊಂದನೇ (73ನೇ, 1992), ಹನ್ನೆರಡನೇ (74ನೇ, 1992). (→ English: universal adult franchise · हिन्दी: सार्वभौम वयस्क मताधिकार)

In exam EnglishRights come in three layers: justiciable Fundamental Rights (Part III), non-justiciable Directive Principles (Part IV) and Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976). India is a secular State, and voting rests on universal adult franchise (Article 326), with the age lowered from 21 to 18 by the 61st Amendment (1988). Independent constitutional bodies, emergency provisions (Articles 352, 356 and 360), panchayats and municipalities (73rd and 74th Amendments, 1992) and co-operative societies (97th Amendment, 2011) complete the design. Four Schedules were added after 1950: the Ninth (1st Amendment, 1951), the Tenth (52nd, 1985), the Eleventh (73rd, 1992) and the Twelfth (74th, 1992).

ಪೌರತ್ವ ಭಾಗ II ರಿಂದ ಆರಂಭ. ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕ ಪೌರತ್ವ; ಕೆಲವು ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು ನಾಗರಿಕರಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ: ವಿಧಿಗಳು 15, 16, 19, 29, 30, ಮತದಾನ, ವಿಧಾನಮಂಡಲ ಸದಸ್ಯತ್ವ, ಉನ್ನತ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳು. ವಿಧಿ 5 ರಿಂದ 8 — 1950ರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗರಿಕ ಯಾರು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದವು: ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ವಾಸಸ್ಥಾನವಿದ್ದು ಜನನ, ತಂದೆ-ತಾಯಿ ಅಥವಾ ಐದು ವರ್ಷದ ವಾಸ ಎಂಬ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಇದ್ದವರು; ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದಿಂದ ಬಂದವರು (19 ಜುಲೈ 1948ಕ್ಕೆ ಮೊದಲು ಬಂದರೆ ತಾನಾಗಿಯೇ, ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ನೋಂದಣಿಯಿಂದ); 1 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 1947ರ ನಂತರ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದವರು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಪುನರ್ವಸತಿ ಪರವಾನಗಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮರಳಿದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬೇರೆ; ವಿದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಮೂಲದವರು ನೋಂದಣಿಯಿಂದ. ವಿಧಿ 9 ಸ್ವಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ವಿದೇಶಿ ಪೌರತ್ವ ಪಡೆದವರನ್ನು ಹೊರಗಿಡುತ್ತದೆ; ವಿಧಿ 11 ಉಳಿದದ್ದನ್ನು ಸಂಸತ್ತಿಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು. (→ English: citizen · हिन्दी: नागरिक)

In exam EnglishCitizenship begins with Part II. India has single citizenship, and several rights are for citizens only: Articles 15, 16, 19, 29 and 30, the vote, membership of legislatures and high offices. Articles 5 to 8 fixed who was a citizen in 1950: people domiciled in India with a link of birth, parentage or five years' residence; migrants from Pakistan (automatically if they came before 19 July 1948, otherwise by registration); not those who left for Pakistan after 1 March 1947 unless they returned under a resettlement permit; and persons of Indian origin abroad who registered. Article 9 excludes anyone who voluntarily took a foreign citizenship, and Article 11 leaves the rest to Parliament.

ಪೌರತ್ವ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1955 ಒಳಬರಲು ಐದು ದಾರಿಗಳು: ಜನನ, ವಂಶ, ನೋಂದಣಿ, ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕೀಕರಣ, ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆ. 30 ಜೂನ್ 1987ರವರೆಗೆ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು; 1 ಜುಲೈ 1987ರಿಂದ ತಂದೆ-ತಾಯಿಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರು ನಾಗರಿಕರಾಗಿರಬೇಕು; 3 ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 2004ರಿಂದ ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ನಾಗರಿಕರು, ಅಥವಾ ಒಬ್ಬರು ನಾಗರಿಕ, ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರು ಅಕ್ರಮ ವಲಸಿಗರಲ್ಲ. ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಜಿಗೆ ಮೊದಲು ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ತಿಂಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಹದಿನಾಲ್ಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ವರ್ಷ ವಾಸ. ಹೊರಹೋಗಲು ಮೂರು ದಾರಿಗಳು: ಘೋಷಣೆಯಿಂದ ತ್ಯಾಗ, ಸ್ವಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ಬೇರೆ ದೇಶದ ಪೌರತ್ವ ಪಡೆದರೆ ತಾನಾಗಿಯೇ ಮುಕ್ತಾಯ, ನೋಂದಣಿ ಅಥವಾ ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕೀಕರಣದಿಂದ ನಾಗರಿಕರಾದವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರದ ಆದೇಶದಿಂದ ವಂಚನೆ. (→ English: naturalisation · हिन्दी: देशीयकरण)

In exam EnglishThe Citizenship Act, 1955 gives five ways in: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and incorporation of territory. Birth in India alone was enough until 30 June 1987; from 1 July 1987 one parent had to be a citizen, and from 3 December 2004 both parents must be citizens, or one a citizen and the other not an illegal migrant. Naturalisation needs twelve months' residence before applying plus eleven of the fourteen years before that. There are three ways out: renunciation by declaration, automatic termination on voluntarily taking another country's citizenship, and deprivation by order of the Central Government, which applies to citizens by registration or naturalisation.

ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ದ್ವಿ ಪೌರತ್ವ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕಾರಣ ಭಾರತದ ಸಾಗರೋತ್ತರ ನಾಗರಿಕ (OCI) ಕಾರ್ಡ್ (2003ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂತು, 2015ರಲ್ಲಿ PIO ಕಾರ್ಡ್‌ನೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಿಲೀನ) ಜೀವನಪರ್ಯಂತ ವೀಸಾ ಕೊಡುತ್ತದೆ, ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. 2003ರ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಅಕ್ರಮ ವಲಸಿಗನನ್ನು ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಿಸಿತು; 2019ರ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಅಫ್ಘಾನಿಸ್ತಾನ, ಬಾಂಗ್ಲಾದೇಶ, ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದಿಂದ 31 ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 2014ರೊಳಗೆ ಬಂದ ಆರು ಸಮುದಾಯದವರಿಗೆ ವಿನಾಯಿತಿ ನೀಡಿ, ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕೀಕರಣದ ಅವಧಿಯನ್ನು ಐದು ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಇಳಿಸಿತು — ಆರನೇ ಅನುಸೂಚಿಯ ಬುಡಕಟ್ಟು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಇನ್ನರ್ ಲೈನ್ ಪರ್ಮಿಟ್ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರತುಪಡಿಸಿ. ಅಸ್ಸಾಂನ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್ 6A 1 ಜನವರಿ 1966 ಮತ್ತು 25 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 1971 ದಿನಾಂಕಗಳನ್ನು ಮಿತಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಳಸುತ್ತದೆ; ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ 2024ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ವೋಚ್ಚ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ಅದನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಹಿಡಿಯಿತು. (→ English: Overseas Citizen of India · हिन्दी: भारत का विदेशी नागरिक)

In exam EnglishBecause India has no dual citizenship, the Overseas Citizen of India card (created in 2003 and merged with the PIO card in 2015) gives a lifelong visa but no political rights. The 2003 amendment defined an illegal migrant; the 2019 amendment exempts members of six communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered by 31 December 2014 and cuts their naturalisation period to five years, except in Sixth Schedule tribal areas and Inner Line permit areas. Section 6A for Assam uses 1 January 1966 and 25 March 1971 as its cut-offs and was upheld by the Supreme Court in October 2024.
At a glance: salient features and citizenship
TopicKey facts
Adoption and commencementAdopted 26 Nov 1949; in force 26 Jan 1950; citizenship and election provisions from 26 Nov 1949 (Art 394)
SizeOriginally 395 Articles, 22 Parts, 8 Schedules; now 25 Parts, 12 Schedules
Sources1935 Act largest; Britain, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and others
AmendmentSimple majority outside Art 368; special majority; special majority plus half the States; basic structure limit
Added SchedulesNinth (1st, 1951), Tenth (52nd, 1985), Eleventh (73rd, 1992), Twelfth (74th, 1992)
Citizenship in 1950Arts 5–8; Art 9 bars voluntary foreign citizenship; Art 11 lets Parliament legislate
Ways in and outBirth, descent, registration, naturalisation, incorporation; renunciation, termination, deprivation
Later changesOCI (2003, PIO merged 2015); 2019 amendment (31 Dec 2014); Section 6A for Assam (upheld 2024)

Exam traps

Recap

Practice questions

Q1. Match List I with List II:
List I (Country)
A. Canada
B. Australia
C. Ireland
D. Japan
List II (Feature borrowed)
1. Concurrent List
2. Procedure established by law
3. Residuary powers with the Centre
4. Nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
  2. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
  3. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
  4. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
Show answer

Answer: A. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Canada gave residuary powers with the Centre, Australia the Concurrent List, Ireland the nomination of Rajya Sabha members and Japan 'procedure established by law'. The second code swaps Canada and Australia, the third swaps Ireland and Japan, and the fourth swaps Canada and Ireland.

Q2. The Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, listing subjects for panchayats, was added by the

  1. 52nd Amendment
  2. 73rd Amendment
  3. 74th Amendment
  4. 97th Amendment
Show answer

Answer: B. 73rd Amendment

The 73rd Amendment (1992) added the Eleventh Schedule. The 52nd added the Tenth (anti-defection), the 74th added the Twelfth (municipalities), and the 97th added Part IXB on co-operative societies, not a Schedule.

Q3. Consider the following statements:
1. Provisions of the Constitution relating to citizenship came into force on 26 November 1949.
2. The Constitution came fully into force on 26 January 1950.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Both are correct: Article 394 brought citizenship, election and some other provisions into force on adoption, and the rest followed on 26 January 1950. Each single-statement option leaves out a correct statement, and 'neither' rejects both.

Q4. The collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha is laid down in

  1. Article 74(1)
  2. Article 75(3)
  3. Article 78
  4. Article 368
Show answer

Answer: B. Article 75(3)

Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Article 74(1) provides for the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President, Article 78 sets out the Prime Minister's duty to inform the President, and Article 368 is the amendment procedure.

Q5. An Indian citizen who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be an Indian citizen. Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, this is called

  1. Renunciation
  2. Termination
  3. Deprivation
  4. Suspension
Show answer

Answer: B. Termination

This is termination under section 9, and it is automatic. Renunciation needs a declaration by the citizen, deprivation needs an order of the Central Government, and the Act has no 'suspension' of citizenship.

Q6. Consider the following statements:
1. Under Article 5, a person domiciled in India who had been ordinarily resident in India for at least five years immediately before the commencement of the Constitution became a citizen.
2. Article 8 deals with persons who migrated from India to Pakistan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: A. 1 only

Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: migrants to Pakistan are covered by Article 7; Article 8 is about persons of Indian origin living abroad. So '2 only' and 'both' are wrong, and 'neither' ignores statement 1.

Q7. For citizenship by naturalisation under the Third Schedule to the Citizenship Act, 1955, the general residence requirement is

  1. Five years in all during the preceding seven years
  2. Seven years of continuous residence
  3. Twelve months before applying plus eleven of the fourteen years before that
  4. Fourteen years of continuous residence
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Answer: C. Twelve months before applying plus eleven of the fourteen years before that

The rule is twelve months immediately before the application plus eleven years in all during the fourteen years before that. Five years applies only to the communities covered by the 2019 amendment, seven years is the residence condition for registration, and no rule requires fourteen continuous years.

Q8. Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the covered persons from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan must have entered India on or before

  1. 25 March 1971
  2. 1 January 1966
  3. 3 December 2004
  4. 31 December 2014
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Answer: D. 31 December 2014

The cut-off is 31 December 2014. 1 January 1966 and 25 March 1971 are the Assam cut-offs in Section 6A, and 3 December 2004 is when the 2003 amendment's birth rule took effect.

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