Citizenship MCQs for UPSC Prelims

32 practice questions on Citizenship from the Polity & Governance section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 32 come with a written explanation and 2 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

2 Easy 23 Medium 7 Hard 2 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question easy

Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile. 2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements are wrong, so 'D' is the answer. Aadhaar is only a proof of identity and residence, not of citizenship or domicile, so statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is also incorrect because the Issuing Authority (UIDAI) can deactivate or omit an Aadhaar number, for instance on grounds of biometric failure or invalid enrolment. Hence neither statement is correct.

Q2
Previous year question medium

With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 3. A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C 1 and 3
  4. D 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 only

Statement 1 is correct: India has single citizenship and a single domicile for the whole country. Statement 2 is wrong because the President (Head of State) need only be a citizen of India and need not be a citizen by birth, unlike some countries. Statement 3 is also wrong, as a naturalised citizen can be deprived of citizenship under the Citizenship Act on specified grounds such as fraud or disloyalty. Hence only statement 1 is correct, giving 1 only, option (a).

Q3
medium

Consider the following provisions and identify which of them deal with the acquisition or loss of Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955: 1. Citizenship by descent 2. Citizenship by registration 3. Citizenship by naturalisation 4. Termination of citizenship by renunciation How many of the above are modes recognised under the Citizenship Act, 1955?

  1. A Only two
  2. B Only three
  3. C All four
  4. D Only one
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - All four

The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides five modes of acquisition (birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, and incorporation of territory) and three modes of loss (renunciation, termination, and deprivation). Descent (1), registration (2) and naturalisation (3) are valid modes of acquisition, while renunciation (4) is a valid mode of loss. All four are recognised provisions of the Act, so the answer is all four.

Q4
hard

Consider the following statements regarding citizenship under the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, 1955: 1. The Constitution lays down the categories of persons who became citizens at its commencement but leaves continuing matters of acquisition and termination to be regulated by Parliament. 2. Citizenship by registration and by naturalisation are both modes provided under the Citizenship Act, 1955. 3. India permits dual citizenship, allowing an Indian citizen to simultaneously hold the citizenship of a foreign country. How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Only two

Statement 1 is correct: Articles 5 to 11 deal with citizenship at commencement and Article 11 empowers Parliament to legislate on acquisition and termination, which it did via the Citizenship Act, 1955. Statement 2 is correct: registration, naturalisation, birth, descent and incorporation of territory are modes under the 1955 Act. Statement 3 is incorrect: India does not permit dual citizenship; acquiring a foreign citizenship results in automatic loss of Indian citizenship. The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme is not full dual citizenship. Hence two statements are correct.

Q5
medium

With reference to the acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955, consider the following statements: 1. A person who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be a citizen of India. 2. Citizenship by naturalisation requires that the applicant has resided in India throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the application. 3. The Central Government may deprive a naturalised citizen of citizenship if he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal towards the Constitution. How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - All three

All three are correct. Termination occurs automatically by voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship (statement 1). Naturalisation requires residence/government service in India for twelve months immediately before the application, plus an aggregate qualifying period in the preceding years (statement 2). Deprivation of citizenship of a naturalised citizen may follow disloyalty by act or speech towards the Constitution (statement 3). All conditions are drawn directly from the Citizenship Act, 1955, so the count is three.

Q6
hard

Consider the following statements regarding the acquisition of Indian citizenship by 'descent' under the Citizenship Act, 1955 (as amended): 1. A person born outside India is a citizen by descent if either of his parents was a citizen of India by birth at the time of his birth. 2. For births outside India on or after 3 December 2004, citizenship by descent requires the birth to be registered at an Indian consulate within one year, accompanied by a declaration that the minor does not hold the passport of another country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 2 only

Statement 1 is incorrect: citizenship by descent requires that either parent be a citizen of India at the time of the person's birth, but not necessarily a citizen 'by birth'; a parent who is an Indian citizen by any mode suffices (with conditions on registration for later cases). Statement 2 is correct: for births outside India on or after 3 December 2004, the birth must be registered at an Indian consulate within one year (or with central government permission thereafter), with a declaration that the minor holds no other country's passport. Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q7
medium

With reference to the citizenship provisions under the Constitution of India and the Citizenship Act, 1955, consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution lays down the permanent provisions relating to acquisition and loss of citizenship after the commencement of the Constitution. 2. Citizenship by naturalisation is one of the modes of acquiring Indian citizenship. 3. A person who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country loses Indian citizenship by termination. How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Only two

Two statements are correct. Statement 1 is wrong: the Constitution (Articles 5-11) deals only with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution and empowers Parliament to make law; the permanent provisions are in the Citizenship Act, 1955, not the Constitution. Statement 2 is correct: naturalisation is a recognised mode of acquisition under the Act (along with birth, descent, registration and incorporation of territory). Statement 3 is correct: voluntary acquisition of another country's citizenship results in loss by termination. Thus exactly two are correct, so 'Only two' is the answer.

Q8
medium

The 'Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003' is notable in the constitutional and statutory history of Indian citizenship primarily because it:

  1. A Introduced the concept of 'Overseas Citizen of India' and provided for a National Register of Citizens
  2. B First conferred citizenship by birth on all persons born in India after 26 January 1950
  3. C Abolished the category of citizenship by naturalisation
  4. D Granted citizenship to all migrants from neighbouring countries irrespective of religion
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Introduced the concept of 'Overseas Citizen of India' and provided for a National Register of Citizens

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 introduced the 'Overseas Citizen of India' (OCI) framework and provided for the compulsory registration of every citizen and the maintenance of a National Register of Indian Citizens (with a National Identity Card). It also restricted citizenship by birth (a child born in India is a citizen only if at least one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant). It did not abolish naturalisation or grant blanket citizenship.

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More Polity & Governance topics

Parliament 100 Constitutional Bodies 93 Schedules & Special Provisions 85 Centre-State Relations & Federalism 84 Fundamental Rights 57 Judiciary 57 Governance, Transparency & Accountability 54 Amendment of Constitution 49 Local Government 48 Directive Principles 45 Elections & Representation 44 Union Executive 43 Statutory & Regulatory Bodies 41 Social Justice & Welfare 39 State Legislature & Executive 38 Constitutional Framework 37 Emergency Provisions 32 Bills & Acts 31 Rights Issues & Mechanisms 31 Fundamental Duties 27