Under the Citizenship Act 1955, by which of the following ways can a person become a citizen of India?

a. By incorporation of territory

b. By descent

c. By birth

d. By naturalisation

e. By registration 

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• According to the provisions under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the following are the ways to get citizenship in India which are mentioned below-

1. By descent 
   • A person born outside of India on or after 26 January 1950 is a citizen by descent if his/her father was a citizen of India by birth. 
   • A person born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004 if either of his/her parents was a citizen of India by birth.
   • If a person born outside India or after December 3, 2004, then his/her parents have to declare that the minor doesn't hold a passport of another country and birth is registered in the Indian consulate within one year of birth.
2. By Birth
   • A person born in India on or after 26 January 1950 but before 1 July 1987 is an Indian citizen irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents.
   • A person born in India between 01 July 1987 and 02 December 2004 is a citizen of India given either of his/her parents is a citizen of the country at the time of his/her birth.
   • Every person born in India on or after 3 December 2004 is a citizen of the country given both his/her parents are Indians or at least one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of birth.
3. By Naturalisation
   • A person can acquire citizenship if he/she is an ordinary citizen of India for 12 years and fulfills all the qualifications under the Citizenship Act 1955.
4. By Registration
   • ​​A person of Indian origin who has been a resident of India for 7 years before applying for registration.
   • A person of Indian origin who is a resident of any country outside India.
   • A person who is married to an Indian citizen and is ordinarily resident for 7 years before applying for registration.
   • Minor children of persons who are citizens of India.
5. By incorporation of territory:
   • ​​If any territory becomes a part of India, the Central Government may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, specify the persons who shall be citizens of India by reason of their connection with that territory; and those persons shall be citizens of India as from the date to be specified in the order.