Passport Not a Proof of Citizenship: MEA

Syllabus: GS2/Citizenship

Context

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is strictly a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship.

About

• An Indian passport is an official travel document issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 
• It serves as proof of the holder’s identity and nationality for international travel and enables access to consular assistance abroad. 
• An ePassport is a combined paper and electronic passport with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Chip and an antenna embedded as an inlay of passport that contains the personal particulars and biometric information of the passport holder.
• They are designed in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for biometric travel documents.

Citizenship

• Citizenship is listed in the Union List under the Constitution and thus is under the exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament.
• The Constitution does not define the term ‘citizen’ but details of various categories of persons who are entitled to citizenship are given in Part II (Articles 5 to 11).

Acquisition of Indian Citizenship

• The Citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes five ways of acquiring citizenship:
  • Citizenship conferred by birth;
  • Citizenship through descent;
  • Citizenship through registration;
  • Naturalization leads to citizenship;
  • Territorial incorporation (by the Government of India).
• Under The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, Persons of Indian Origin are not allowed dual citizenship.
  • If a person has ever held an Indian passport and has obtained the passport of another country, they are required to immediately surrender their Indian passport.

Termination of Indian Citizenship

• Renunciation: Any Indian citizen who is also a national of another country who renounces his Indian citizenship in the prescribed manner through a declaration ceases to be an Indian citizen.
• Termination: An Indian citizen’s citizenship can be revoked if he or she knowingly or voluntarily adopts the citizenship of another country.
• Deprivation: In some cases, the Indian government may deprive a person of his citizenship. However, this does not apply to all citizens. Conditions for deprivation are:
  • Obtained the citizenship by fraud.
  • Citizens have shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India.
  • Citizens have unlawfully traded or communicated during the times of war.
  • Within 5 years of naturalization, the said citizen is imprisoned for a term of two years.
  • Citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for a period of 7 years.

Source: IE