UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 89: Polity and Governance
With reference to India, consider the following statements :
- 1.There is only one citizenship and one domicile.
- 2.A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State.
- 3.A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
India has a single citizenship for the whole country, unlike a federation such as the United States, and one domicile, so statement 1 is correct. The President must be a citizen of India under Article 58 but need not be a citizen by birth, so statement 2 is wrong. Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, citizenship acquired by registration or naturalisation can be taken away in cases such as fraud or disloyalty, so statement 3 is wrong.
- 1. India has single citizenship and a single domicile.
- 2. The President must be a citizen but not necessarily a citizen by birth.
- 3. The Citizenship Act allows deprivation in cases such as fraud or disloyalty.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: India has single citizenship and a single domicile.
The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 3.
What you needed to know: The Citizenship Act allows deprivation in cases such as fraud or disloyalty.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: only statement 1 is correct.
- (b) Wrong: the President need not be a citizen by birth.
- (c) Wrong: statement 3 is false, since citizenship can be deprived.
- (d) Wrong: both statements 2 and 3 are false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.