Citizenship by incorporation of territory
Topic: Citizenship: Idea and Indian Law · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Citizenship"
Meaning
Citizenship by incorporation of territory applies when a new area becomes part of India. Under Section 7 of the Citizenship Act 1955, the Central government issues a notice (a formal order) saying which people of that area become Indian citizens, and from what date. NCERT lists it as one of five ways to get citizenship, along with birth, descent, registration and naturalisation. It matters because joining a territory to India does not by itself make its people citizens. The government has to say so.
Example
After Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Pondicherry became part of India, their people were made citizens by notification in 1962. Sikkim's people became citizens in the same way in 1975.
Don't confuse with
- Citizenship by registration or naturalisation: in those modes, an individual applies. With incorporation, a whole group becomes citizens through one government notice. No one applies.
Related concepts
- Citizenship Act 1955
- Citizenship by birth
- Citizenship by descent
- Citizenship by registration
- Citizenship by naturalisation