Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Citizen and Citizenship from Class 8 Social_Science. After studying this chapter you will learn the meaning and difference between citizen and citizenship. You will know about the facilities provided by the country to the citizen. You will differentiate between citizen and alien. You will know the methods of acquiring citizenship and reasons for losing citizenship. Let us begin our journey into understanding what it truly means to be a citizen.
The meaning of citizenship varies from time to time. In ancient Greece, the word citizenship had a narrow meaning. It referred to those persons who took direct and active part in the administration of the state. Not all who lived in the state were citizens, but only those who actively participated in the administration, justice, and legislative functions of the state were called citizens. In ancient Greece, citizenship was a privilege conferred upon a selected few. Women, manual workers, and slaves were denied all the rights of citizenship. But in modern times, the term citizenship conveys a broader meaning. The term citizen refers to a person who is a full-fledged member of the state, enjoying all rights, civil, political, and economic, and owing allegiance to the state to which he belongs. Vattel defines a modern citizen as a member of a civil society, bound to it by certain duties, subjected to its authority, and an equal recipient of its advantages. Accordingly, a citizen is a member of a state who owes allegiance to it, enjoys the protection and benefits granted by it, and performs duties towards the state. Thus, a citizen is a permanent member of the state who possesses civil and political rights and owes allegiance to the state.
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There is a difference between subjects and citizens. Before 1947, we were the subjects of the British. After independence, we became the citizens of India. Generally, people who belong to and live in a state are its citizens. To be a good citizen, one has to obey the law of the land and fulfil certain legal conditions. There is a relationship between the state and the citizens. The state provides protection and certain facilities to its citizens, while the citizens, by following state policies, rules, and regulations, should contribute to the development of the state, obey the laws, and owe their allegiance to the state. A citizen enjoys certain benefits in his state. He enjoys security and gets protection from the State. He enjoys a peaceful life as the state ensures law and order. Under social welfare schemes, he enjoys benefits like education, health, insurance, settlement, employment, and such others provided by the state. He enjoys both the civil and political rights. He enjoys the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. He can participate in political processes like voting and contesting elections. He is eligible to occupy certain offices such as those of the President of India, Vice-President, Judge of Supreme Court, High Courts, and such others. He is eligible for recruitment to all public services.
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Now, let us look at the difference between a citizen and an alien. A citizen is a member of the state, born and grown in the state, who owes allegiance to it and enjoys both civil and political rights. He is protected by the state. An alien, on the other hand, is one who has come to reside temporarily in a state. He is a foreigner in the state of temporary residence but a citizen of the state from which he has come. The chief differences are as follows. First, citizens are permanent residents of their state, while aliens are temporary residents or tourists. Second, citizens enjoy political rights, but aliens are not given political rights like the right to vote, the right to contest elections, or the right to hold public offices. Third, citizens owe allegiance to their state, whereas an alien is a foreigner and a citizen of another state who must respect and follow the laws of the state where he is temporarily living. Fourth, a citizen cannot be driven out of his state, but an alien can be asked to leave the country of temporary residence for various reasons such as illegal activities or expiry of visa period.
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Next, we will learn about the methods of acquiring citizenship. There are two general ways: Natural Citizenship and Naturalised Citizenship. Natural citizenship is based on the place of birth. If a person is born in a state, he is eligible for natural citizenship of that state. However, it is argued that granting citizenship based solely on place of birth can be problematic because a birth might happen accidentally in another country. Naturalised citizenship means an alien can become a citizen after fulfilling certain conditions. Though these conditions vary from state to state, some general principles are observed. First is domicile or residence. Long residence in a foreign state entitles a person to acquire its citizenship. The period differs by state; in England and the USA it is five years, and in France it is ten years. Second is marriage. A woman acquires the citizenship of her husband's country when she marries a foreigner, but the husband does not get the citizenship of his wife's country, except in countries like Japan where conditions are different. Third is foreign service. A person appointed in the government service of a foreign state may be granted citizenship of that country, though many countries restrict this due to loyalty concerns. Fourth is application. In all states, an alien may be granted citizenship if he applies and satisfies conditions like being solvent and of good moral character. Fifth is property. A person who purchases property in a foreign country and desires citizenship may be granted it, as in Mexico, though foreign countries may not provide such opportunities recently.
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Now, let us look at the methods of acquiring citizenship in India. Parliament is the sole authority to legislate laws on citizenship. State legislatures have no power in this matter. The Citizenship Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in 1955 and it elaborates the provisions for the acquisition and termination of citizenship. The Act was amended in 1986 and again in 2019, making acquisition more stringent. The Citizenship Act 1955 prescribes five modes. First, citizenship by birth. Every person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 shall be a citizen of India by birth. Those born before 26th January 1950 and domiciled in India were also granted citizenship. Second, citizenship by descent. Every person born outside India on or after 26th January 1950 shall be a citizen of India by descent if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
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Third, citizenship by registration. If any person who is not an Indian citizen desires to become an Indian citizen, he can acquire it through registration as per the Constitution or the Citizenship Act. Fourth, citizenship by naturalization. Foreigners can acquire Indian citizenship by naturalization by submitting an application to the President of India. Certain conditions have to be fulfilled, including living in India for not less than seven years. Fifth, citizenship by the incorporation of a new territory. If any new territory is added to India, the people of that territory will get citizenship by order of the Government of India. Just as citizenship may be acquired, it can also be lost. The important ways of losing citizenship in India are as follows. First is renunciation. Any Indian citizen can voluntarily renounce his citizenship by submitting an application to the concerned authority. Second is termination. If an Indian citizen acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship is automatically terminated by law, without needing an application. Third is deprivation. If a person obtained citizenship by fraud, indulges in anti-national activities, or shows disloyalty to the Constitution, the Government of India can forcibly deprive him of his citizenship.
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There are two types of citizenship: single citizenship and dual citizenship. Single citizenship means people have only one national citizenship, irrespective of the province they belong to. There is no separate state citizenship. For example, in India, we live in Karnataka but hold only Indian citizenship. Dual citizenship is a system of having separate citizenship for a nation and a state. A person is a citizen of the state where he resides and also a citizen of the nation. For example, dual citizenship exists in the USA under its federal system. If a citizen lives in New Jersey, he holds citizenship of New Jersey along with citizenship of the USA. Now, let us discuss the relationship between the citizen and the government. There is a close bond between them. The state protects citizens' interests, provides security from foreign aggression, maintains law and order, promotes unity, frames laws to curb violence, and undertakes social, economic, and educational programmes to overcome illiteracy, poverty, inequality, and unemployment. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights. Citizens also have duties towards the nation. Rights and duties are like two faces of the same coin.
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A citizen must respect the Constitution and obey laws, protect national honour by his words and deeds, and avoid anti-national activities. He must oppose and check evil practices like corruption, nepotism, dowry, and child marriage through constitutional means. He must take part in political activities, as the quality of government depends on the quality of citizens. He must place national interest above personal interest and work for national progress. He must be service-minded and prepared to sacrifice for the nation. He has obligations like paying taxes and defending the nation. Fundamental duties were incorporated into our Constitution in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment Act, under Article 51A. Their purpose is to make citizens aware of social and economic obligations, helping them understand what to do or avoid for the country's interest. Citizens should practise these duties for community, nation, and personal progress. The relationship between citizens and government should be cordial, based on give and take.
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Now, let us go through the exercises. Section one: Fill in the blanks. One: The people living in India under British rule were termed as subjects. Two: A temporarily residing foreigner in our country is called an alien. Three: The Citizenship Act was passed in the year 1955. Four: The method through which you have acquired citizenship is natural citizenship. Section two: Answer briefly. Five: What is citizenship? It is the status of a full-fledged member of a state, enjoying civil, political, and economic rights while owing allegiance and performing duties. Six: What are the benefits enjoyed by a citizen? Security, peaceful life, social welfare benefits, civil and political rights, fundamental rights, participation in elections, eligibility for high offices, and recruitment to public services. Seven: Name the body with authority to legislate citizenship laws in India. The Parliament of India. Eight: Mention methods of acquiring citizenship. Natural citizenship and naturalised citizenship, with conditions like residence, marriage, foreign service, application, and property. Nine: Explain citizenship by naturalization. It allows foreigners to become citizens by applying to the President of India after fulfilling conditions like residing in India for at least seven years. Ten: What are the methods of losing citizenship? Renunciation, termination, and deprivation. Eleven: Mention a situation for termination. It occurs automatically when an Indian citizen acquires another country's citizenship. Twelve: Mention types of citizenship and differences. Single citizenship involves only national citizenship, as in India. Dual citizenship involves both state and national citizenship, as in the USA. Thirteen: What are the duties of a citizen? Respect the Constitution, obey laws, protect national honour, avoid anti-national acts, oppose social evils constitutionally, participate in politics, prioritize national interest, pay taxes, and defend the nation.
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The textbook also includes activities and projects. For activities, prepare a pictorial representation of the fundamental duties and exhibit it in your school. Discuss the benefits of fundamental rights under your teacher's guidance. Discuss the importance of the right to equality and right to freedom in India under your teacher's guidance. Prepare a pictorial chart showing methods of acquiring and losing citizenship and exhibit it in your classroom. Discuss the benefits of single citizenship in India. Discuss how introducing dual citizenship, as in the US, would benefit India. For projects, collect information from newspapers and magazines about violations of fundamental rights and the remedial measures taken. Collect information from concerned authorities about the procedure an Indian must follow to stay in a foreign country for a short period.
Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]