Question

Which of the following countries has not accepted the principle of dual citizenship?

• A. India
• B. Canada
• C. Australia
• D. United States of America

Hint:

To promote a sense of national unity and avoid divided loyalties, the framers of the Indian Constitution opted for single citizenship. Remember this as a key feature of the Indian state.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the country among the options that does not permit dual citizenship.
Step 2: Key Concept:
Dual citizenship means a person is a citizen of two countries simultaneously. Some countries permit this, while others mandate single citizenship.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The Indian Constitution provides for a single, uniform citizenship for the whole country.
- India: Under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, an Indian citizen who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country automatically ceases to be an Indian citizen. Therefore, India does not accept the principle of dual citizenship.
- United States of America, Canada, and Australia: These are federal countries that permit dual citizenship. For instance, in the USA, a person can be a US citizen and also a citizen of another country. These countries also have a form of dual polity (national and state governments), although the USA is the primary example of a dual citizenship model where a citizen belongs to both the federal government and their respective state. However, in the context of international dual citizenship, all three permit it.
Step 4: Final Answer
India has not accepted the principle of dual citizenship.