Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 5 (Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution): Defines constitutional citizenship status and parliamentary regulation under Part II.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 5 addresses 'Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution' in Part II (Citizenship). It sets out the legal framework for who was recognized as an Indian citizen at the commencement of the Constitution (26 January 1950), including provisions for domicile, cross-border migration during Partition, overseas Indians, and Parliament's plenary power to enact citizenship laws.
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 5): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution' under Part II
Structured across 1 clause(s) and 3 sub-clause(s) with clear procedural conditions
Any administrative or legislative action violating Article 5 can be challenged before the High Court (Art. 226) or Supreme Court
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
India strictly follows single citizenship; under Article 9, voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a foreign State terminates Indian citizenship, subject to Parliamentary law under Article 11.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Article 5 anchors your legal identity as an equal citizen of the Republic of India with full voting and constitutional protections.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates: