RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

Government data claimed that over 3.9 lakh Indians gave up their citizenship in the past three years to settle abroad.

Findings

• More than 1.63 lakh Indians relinquished their citizenship in 2021 alone and the majority had opted the citizenship in the USA
• Between 2019 and 2020 more than 1.44 lakh Indians gave their citizenship and the most common reason given was ‘personal’.
• The United States emerged as the top choice among 103 countries where the emigrant settled.
• Apart from choosing countries such as Singapore (7,046) and Sweden (3,7540), many have also renounced their citizenship for Bahrain, Angola, Iran, and Iraq.
• The maximum number of Indians who had given Indian citizenship in 2021 and went to the United States of America (78,284), Australia (23,533), Canada (21,597), United Kingdom (14,637).

About Citizenship in India

• Citizenship refers to the individual relationship with the state. Citizens are full members of the Indian state and are bound by its law and order.
• Citizenship is listed in the Constitution's Union List and hence it falls under the sole control of the Indian parliament
• Though the term “citizen” is not defined in the constitution. Part 2 of the Constitution describes the numerous types of people who are eligible for citizenship (Articles 5 to 11).

No dual Citizenship: Under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, Persons of Indian Origin are not allowed to hold the citizenship of two countries.

Surrendering the passport: If a person has ever held an Indian Passport and then obtains the passport of some other country, then they will be required to surrender their Indian Passport immediately after they gain the nationality of the other country.

Various ways to obtain Indian citizenship (The Citizenship Act 1955)

• Citizenship conferred by birth
• Citizenship through descent
• Citizenship through registration
• Naturalization leads to citizenship.
• Territorial incorporation (by the Government of India)

Termination of 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 cease 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 Government of India may deprive a person of his citizenship. However, this does not apply to all citizens. Conditions for deprivation are as follows:

• If he/she obtained citizenship by fraud mean.
• If the Citizen has shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India.
• If the Citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated during times of war.
• Within 5 years of naturalization, the said citizen is imprisoned for a term of two years.
• If the Citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for 7 years.

Reason for the renouncement of Citizenship:

The reasons change widely from country to country, and among socio-economic and ethnic groups.

• In general, around the world, people leave their countries in the search of better jobs and living conditions, and even some are pushed out by climate change or unfavorable political situations at home.
• Family: As the Indian people around the world have increased in numbers, with the upcoming or the newer generations holding passports of other countries, some older Indians are choosing to leave to be with family settled overseas.
• Fleeing: Some people who leave the nation may be fleeing the law or fear legal action for the alleged crimes.
• A 2020 report by the Global Wealth Migration review showed that high net worth individuals around the world who renounce their citizenship acquired at birth may do so for reasons of rising crime rates or the lack of business opportunities at home.
• Some may renounce for social reasons: Safety of women and children, lifestyle factors like climate and pollution, financial concerns including taxes, better healthcare for families and educational opportunities for children, and to escape oppressive governments.
• Jobs: The post-Independence diasporic community has been going (out of India) for better jobs and higher education. Those who leave for jobs can be unskilled, semi-skilled, or even skilled labor.

By contrast, the pre-Independence diasporic movement was completely different, where the forced and contractual labor movement was witnessed.

• Privileges: The majority of the Indians do it because of the privileges they will get by using the passports of other countries.

World passport index: India stands at 69th number on the passport power rank according to the world passport index.

While comparing it with other countries - the rank of Australia is 3rd, the USA is 5th, Singapore is 6th and Canada is 7th. At the top are UAE at number 1 and New Zealand at number 2.

• Visa-free access: The higher the passport index ranking, the better access they get to travel visa-free to many countries.