The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Tuesday has told Lok Sabha that the Central government is not considering any proposal to permit people to hold Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.
As per information available with the MEA, 1,41,656 Indians gave up Indian citizenship and took up citizenship of other countries in 2015. A total of 1,44,942 in 2016, a total of 1,27,905 in 2017, a total of 1,25,130 in 2018 and a total of 1,36,441 in 2019.
The Home Ministry stated that they are not thinking of granting dual citizenship to people.
As per the information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, a total of 1,24,99,395 Indian nationals are living in foreign countries, the MHA told the Lower House.
The Indian Constitution does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) commonly known as ‘dual citizenship’ is permitted to people by the Indian government. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of belonging to a certain category of social status as has been specified in the Circular who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as far their home countries permit dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.