Citizenship MCQ: Article 5-11, Single Citizenship & Naturalisation Rules

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which Part of the Constitution of India deals with Citizenship?

   • A.Part I
   • B.Part II✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Part III
   • D.Part IV

   Explanation: Part II of the Constitution of India (Articles 5 to 11) deals with Citizenship.

2. Q2.Which Article of the Constitution gives the Parliament the power to regulate the right of citizenship by law?

   • A.Article 8
   • B.Article 9
   • C.Article 10
   • D.Article 11✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Article 11 empowers the Parliament to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship.

3. Q3.The Citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes how many ways to acquire citizenship?

   • A.3
   • B.4
   • C.5✓ Correct Answer
   • D.6

   Explanation: The Citizenship Act of 1955 provides for acquisition of citizenship in five ways: Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalisation, and Incorporation of Territory.

4. Q4.According to the Constitution, who among the following is NOT a citizen of India at the commencement of the Constitution?

   • A.A person born in the territory of India
   • B.A person either of whose parents was born in the territory of India
   • C.A person who has been ordinarily resident in India for not less than 5 years immediately preceding the commencement
   • D.A person who voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: According to Article 9, no person shall be a citizen of India if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign state.

5. Q5.Single citizenship in India has been borrowed from which country?

   • A.USA
   • B.Canada
   • C.Britain✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Australia

   Explanation: The Constitution of India provides for single citizenship for the entire country, a feature borrowed from the British Constitution.

6. Q6.Which of the following rights is available ONLY to citizens of India and not to aliens?

   • A.Equality before law (Article 14)
   • B.Protection of life and personal liberty (Article 21)
   • C.Right to contest for membership of the Parliament✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Freedom to manage religious affairs (Article 26)

   Explanation: The right to contest for membership of the Parliament and State Legislature is available only to citizens. Articles 14, 21, and 26 are available to both citizens and aliens.

7. Q7.Under the Citizenship Act 1955, by which year were persons born in India considered citizens irrespective of the nationality of their parents?

   • A.July 1, 1987✓ Correct Answer
   • B.January 26, 1950
   • C.December 3, 2004
   • D.August 15, 1947

   Explanation: A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents.

8. Q8.Loss of citizenship by 'Termination' happens when:

   • A.A citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country✓ Correct Answer
   • B.The government deprives a person of citizenship due to fraud
   • C.A person renounces his Indian citizenship
   • D.A person is found trading with the enemy during war

   Explanation: When an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically terminates. This is known as Termination.

9. Q9.Which Fundamental Rights are available exclusively to Indian citizens?

   • A.Articles 14, 19, 21, 25, 29
   • B.Articles 15, 16, 19, 29, 30✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Articles 14, 16, 20, 21, 24
   • D.Articles 15, 19, 21, 26, 30

   Explanation: Articles 15, 16, 19, 29, and 30 are guaranteed only to citizens of India and not to foreigners.

10. Q10.Who has the authority to remove a person from Indian citizenship by 'Deprivation'?

    • A.Supreme Court of India
    • B.Central Government✓ Correct Answer
    • C.State Government
    • D.President of India

    Explanation: The Central Government has the power to deprive a citizen of his citizenship under certain conditions like fraud, disloyalty to the Constitution, etc.

11. Q11.Which article deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India?

    • A.Article 6
    • B.Article 7
    • C.Article 8✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Article 9

    Explanation: Article 8 deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India.

12. Q12.In India, the office of the President is open to:

    • A.Only citizens by birth
    • B.Only citizens by naturalisation
    • C.Both citizens by birth and naturalisation✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Any resident of India

    Explanation: In India, both a citizen by birth as well as a naturalised citizen are eligible for the office of President. (In the USA, only a citizen by birth is eligible).

13. Q13.Which committee recommended the provisions for Dual Citizenship (OCI)?

    • A.Sarkaria Commission
    • B.L.M. Singhvi Committee✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Verma Committee
    • D.Punchhi Commission

    Explanation: The L.M. Singhvi Committee (set up in 2000) recommended the grant of dual citizenship (Overseas Citizenship of India) to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain countries.

14. Q14.Citizenship is listed in which list under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution?

    • A.Union List✓ Correct Answer
    • B.State List
    • C.Concurrent List
    • D.Residuary List

    Explanation: Citizenship is a subject in the Union List under the Seventh Schedule, which is why only the Parliament can legislate on it.

15. Q15.A person can become a citizen of India by Naturalisation if he/she possesses knowledge of a language specified in which Schedule?

    • A.Fourth Schedule
    • B.Seventh Schedule
    • C.Eighth Schedule✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Ninth Schedule

    Explanation: One of the qualifications for naturalisation is that the person must have an adequate knowledge of a language specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

16. Q16.The term 'illegal migrant' was defined in which amendment of the Citizenship Act?

    • A.Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1986
    • B.Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1992
    • D.Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019

    Explanation: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, introduced the definition of 'illegal migrant' to the Citizenship Act, 1955.

17. Q17.Article 7 of the Indian Constitution overrides which other articles?

    • A.Article 5 only
    • B.Article 6 only
    • C.Articles 5 and 6✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Articles 8 and 9

    Explanation: Article 7 (Rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan) contains a non-obstante clause 'Notwithstanding anything in articles 5 and 6', meaning it overrides them.

18. Q18.Registration as a mode of acquiring citizenship is primarily for:

    • A.Foreigners with no Indian link
    • B.Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Illegal migrants
    • D.Refugees

    Explanation: Citizenship by registration is mainly for persons of Indian origin, those married to Indian citizens, and minor children of Indian citizens.

19. Q19.To acquire citizenship by 'Descent', a person born outside India after Dec 3, 2004, must:

    • A.Have his birth registered at an Indian consulate within one year✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Live in India for 7 years
    • C.Hold an OCI card
    • D.None of the above

    Explanation: For those born outside India after Dec 3, 2004, citizenship by descent is not automatic. The birth must be registered at an Indian consulate within one year.

20. Q20.What is the minimum residency requirement in India for Naturalisation (in aggregate during the 14 years preceding the application)?

    • A.7 years
    • B.9 years
    • C.10 years
    • D.11 years✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: For naturalisation, the person must have resided in India for not less than 11 years (in aggregate) out of the 14 years preceding the 12-month period before application. (Note: CAA 2019 reduced this to 5 years for specific communities, but the general rule remains 11).