What is Article 5-11 (Citizenship)?
Historical Background
Key Points
10 points- 1.
Article 5 states that at the commencement of the Constitution, every person who has his domicile in the territory of India and (a) who was born in India; or (b) either of whose parents was born in India; or (c) who has been ordinarily resident in India for not less than five years immediately preceding such commencement, shall be a citizen of India.
- 2.
Article 6 deals with the rights of citizenship of certain persons who have migrated to India from Pakistan. It specifies conditions for those who migrated before July 19, 1948, and those who migrated after that date.
- 3.
Article 7 addresses the rights of citizenship of certain migrants to Pakistan. It states that a person who has migrated to Pakistan after March 1, 1947, shall not be deemed to be a citizen of India.
- 4.
Visual Insights
Understanding Article 5-11 of the Indian Constitution
Key aspects of Article 5-11 related to citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.
Article 5-11 (Citizenship)
- ●Citizenship at Commencement
- ●Key Articles
- ●Limitations
- ●Historical Context
Recent Real-World Examples
1 examplesIllustrated in 1 real-world examples from Feb 2026 to Feb 2026
Source Topic
Pepita Seth, Kerala's 'Adopted Daughter,' Becomes Indian Citizen at 84
Polity & GovernanceUPSC Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
121. What are Article 5-11 of the Indian Constitution and their constitutional basis?
Article 5-11 of the Indian Constitution, found in Part II, deals with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution on January 26, 1950. They define who was considered a citizen based on domicile, birth, and migration. These articles provided the initial framework for citizenship, which Parliament was later empowered to legislate on further.
Exam Tip
Remember that Article 5-11 only addresses citizenship at the *start* of the Constitution. Later laws fill in the gaps.
2. What are the key provisions of Article 5-11 regarding citizenship?
The key provisions include: * Article 5: Citizenship by domicile, birth, or residency. * Article 6: Rights of citizenship for migrants from Pakistan before July 19, 1948. * Article 7: Rights of citizenship for migrants to Pakistan after March 1, 1947. * Article 8: Rights of citizenship for persons of Indian origin residing outside India. * Article 9: Loss of citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship.
