Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to regulate the right of citizenship by law?

Appeared in: Bihar NHM CHO-2025

Explanation

Article 11 of the Indian Constitution grants the Parliament the complete authority to make any law concerning the acquisition and termination of citizenship.
This provision gives Parliament the power to create, modify, or repeal citizenship laws, overriding the initial provisions in Articles 5 to 10.
The Citizenship Act of 1955, which governs Indian citizenship, was enacted by Parliament using the powers granted under this specific article.

Option A: This article defines who was considered a citizen at the start of the Constitution (January 26, 1950); it does not grant any law-making power to Parliament.
Option B: This article deals with the automatic loss of Indian citizenship upon voluntarily acquiring the citizenship of a foreign country. It is a disqualification clause, not a legislative power.
Option C: This article ensures that citizenship rights continue, but it explicitly states they are 'subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament,' which points to another article (Article 11) as the source of that legislative power.

Visual 1: Infographic: A flowchart showing the different ways to acquire and lose Indian citizenship as per the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Visual 2: Table: A summary of Articles 5-11 of the Indian Constitution, highlighting the key aspect of each article.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indian Constitution and Citizenship Laws as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the constitutional basis of citizenship is crucial for general awareness and is a common topic in competitive exams.
This knowledge helps in comprehending current events and public discourse related to citizenship amendments and policies.
What if the question was about the initial provisions for citizenship at independence? Then Article 5 would be the focus, as it laid down the criteria for citizenship at the time of the constitution's commencement.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'empowers Parliament', 'regulate citizenship', and 'by law'. This points to a question about legislative power.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question based on the Indian Constitution, specifically Part II which deals with citizenship.
Mentally review or recall the functions of the articles mentioned in the options (Articles 5, 9, 10, 11).
Differentiate between the articles: Article 5 defines initial citizenship, Article 9 deals with its loss, Article 10 ensures its continuance, and Article 11 grants legislative power.
Conclude that Article 11 is the only one that explicitly gives law-making power to the Parliament on the subject of citizenship.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full Bihar NHM CHO-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.