Riniki Bhuyan passport row: What rules say on dual citizenship, multiple passports in India| India News
India’s Passport Rules Dual Citizenship Explained Omni 360 News
The bedrock of India’s national identity is sole citizenship. An individual cannot legally possess both an Indian passport and a foreign passport concurrently. This principle firmly dictates national allegiance, a rule consistently upheld through legal frameworks.
Under the Citizenship Act of 1955, voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship automatically revokes Indian citizenship. The Indian passport then becomes invalid and must be surrendered to the appropriate Indian authorities. This regulation applies universally to all citizens, ensuring a singular national commitment. Omni 360 News consistently reports on these crucial legal frameworks that shape India’s national policy.
For Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) abroad, the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card offers a way to bridge cultural and economic ties with India. OCI provides extensive travel and residency benefits, including lifelong visas for visiting India. However, it is expressly not dual citizenship. OCI holders lack voting rights, cannot hold public office, or purchase agricultural land in India, clearly differentiating it from full citizenship.
This policy’s reasoning is clear, even for a 12th-grade student: a nation requires undivided loyalty from its citizens. Single citizenship prevents potential conflicts of allegiance, ensuring clarity in national matters, particularly regarding security and foreign policy. Local reports regularly confirm the strict adherence to these established legal provisions. Thus, Indian citizenship is exclusive, and foreign citizenship necessitates Indian passport surrender. OCI facilitates diaspora links but is not dual status, ensuring clear national allegiance.
