Question

What do you mean by single citizenship?

Hint:

Contrast single citizenship in India with dual citizenship in the USA to make the concept clearer. An American is a citizen of both their state and the country, while an Indian is only a citizen of India.

Answer 1

Step 1: Key Concept:
Single citizenship is a system where a person is recognized as a citizen of only one country. In the context of a federal country like India, it also means that there is only one uniform citizenship for the entire country, and no separate citizenship for the states.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The concept of single citizenship in India implies two things:
1. No Dual Citizenship with Other Countries: An Indian citizen cannot simultaneously be a citizen of another country. If an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another nation, their Indian citizenship is automatically terminated.
2. No Separate State Citizenship: Unlike some federal countries like the USA, where a person is a citizen of the USA and also of the state in which they reside, in India, there is only Indian citizenship. A citizen of Uttar Pradesh or Tamil Nadu is first and foremost a citizen of India.
Rationale in India:
The framers of the Indian Constitution adopted single citizenship to promote a sense of unity, fraternity, and national identity among people from diverse regional, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. It ensures that every citizen of India is entitled to the same rights and privileges across the country, without any discrimination based on their state of domicile.