According to Article 10 of the Indian Constitution, everybody who satisfies the definition of a citizen is or will remain a citizen unless the Parliament enacts legislation stripping them of their citizenship. If any territory is added to India, the Central Government may designate, by order published in the Official Gazette, the individuals who will automatically become citizens of India due to their connection to that territory. These individuals will become citizens of India as of the date specified in the order.
Any person who is an Indian citizen under this provision is subject to all laws passed by the Parliament. When an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder who is of legal age and capacity makes the required declaration to renounce the card that identifies him as such, the Central Government must register the declaration; upon such registration, the cardholder ceases to be an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder.
What is the meaning of Article 10?
- Citizenship privileges are maintained Subject to the requirements of any laws that may be adopted by Parliament, anyone who is or is deemed to be an Indian citizen under any of the aforementioned provisions of this Part shall continue to be such an Indian citizen.
One member made a proposal to eliminate this article because he felt it was superfluous and unnecessary and that Draft Article 6 (Article 11) was sufficient for these reasons, despite the fact that there were no significant discussions surrounding it.
The Articles on Citizenship are just temporary, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee emphasized, and a comprehensive citizenship legislation will be enacted by the future Parliament. On August 12, the Assembly adopted this article without any changes.