Why are Indians giving up their citizenship? | What is the process of leaving citizenship in India?

Why are thousands of people giving up Indian citizenship?

Millions of people of India leave the country every year and go abroad and stay there. Many people even give up their citizenship in India, and this number is increasing year after year. According to the data presented by the Union Home Ministry in the Lok Sabha in December 2021, the number of people leaving Indian citizenship is increasing rapidly.

On July 19, the Union Home Ministry, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, told about the shocking figures that in the year 2021, more than 1,63,000 people have given up Indian citizenship. The number is huge compared to the year 2020. During the covid epidemic, 85,256 citizens of the country have given up their citizenship in the year 2020. According to the government's data, more than 78,000 people took US citizenship in 2021.

More than 23500 people from Australia, and more than 21,500 people have taken Canadian citizenship. 300 people got citizenship from China and 41 people from Pakistan and the details of this are in the documents presented in the Parliament. If put, people leaving their country's citizenship do not settle in America, Britain, or Australia, but many people have also taken citizenship of Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Kenya, Jamaica, Ethiopia, and Iran, and left the citizenship of India.

But this process of giving up citizenship is old. Between 2015 and 2020, 8 lakh people gave up citizenship. However, in the year 2020, there was a slight decrease in these figures. But experts believe, the reason behind this was the corona epidemic. The business was largely closed for the last few years. Because of this, in the year 2020, hardly a few people got citizenship outside.

Till now the rules are that if you want citizenship of any other country then you have to give up citizenship of India. Although there is a special facility for Indians settled abroad and who have taken citizenship there, and that is the OCI card, OCI card means Overseas Citizen of India. After this, on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Government of India announced the distribution of OCI cards in Hyderabad in 2006.

For a long time, both PIO and OCI cards were in vogue, but in the year 2015, by abolishing the provision of PIO, the government announced the continuation of OCI cards. Through OCI cards, one can live, work and do all kinds of financial transactions in India for life. The advantage of the OCI card is that through this, any person can come to India whenever he wants without a visa.

Also, the OCI card is valid for a lifetime. Now the question is whether in the coming time the number of people leaving the citizenship of India and taking citizenship of other countries will increase or decrease. When the corona epidemic and other such problems arise, it has its effect, and if people have to face travel restrictions, then they face a very difficult situation.

Why are Indians giving up their citizenship?

Experts say that larger countries often have better facilities, so people decide to stay there. However, small countries are also chosen by people for the convenience of trade. In many countries, people have families, that is why people also settle there and take citizenship there. According to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development in the year 2020, more than 3 million overseas Indians living in 38 countries of the OECD have completed primary education.

One of the biggest reasons why Indians go abroad is India's education system is such that it selects the best and most meritorious candidates. Whereas India's economy is still controlled, and it does not have jobs for its own brightest and best candidates. A report by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy has shown that as the level of education increases, unemployment also increases. According to this report, one in 5 graduate students was unemployed as of December 2021.

The percentage of graduates unemployed was 12.7% in the year 2017, while in 2018 this figure increased to 13.2%. Experts believe that the working hours, work culture, and the working environment abroad are much better than in India. Apart from this, job stability, lifestyle level, and good salary are also one of the big reasons for leaving the country. 

According to a report, 59% of Indian nationals who settled abroad are those who went abroad because of their career. Apart from this, safe life for women and children, a better economy, less pollution, a better climate, better quality of nature, better opportunities for children's education, a better healthcare system, and a better standard of living are also important reasons for migration from India.

People face problems due to Indian passports. Many problems related to travel always come in front of them. Actually, on India's passport, you can go to many countries without a visa, but it is very less compared to many other countries. India is currently at number 87 in the list of 199 in the passport ranking. Many experts also believe that if there was a provision for dual citizenship in India, then it may be that the number of people leaving citizenship will decrease. There is no provision for dual citizenship in India also.

What is the process of leaving citizenship in India?

The Citizenship Act, of 1955 prescribes three ways of losing or relinquishing the citizenship of a person. This would lead to relinquishment of citizenship, termination of citizenship, and deprivation of citizenship. Let us understand these three methods in detail. 

First relinquishment of citizenship - Any adult citizen of India can declare to relinquish citizenship. However, this declaration cannot be accepted at the time of war. If a person renounces his citizenship, then his minor children also lose their Indian citizenship and after attaining the age of eighteen years, if those children wish, they can take Indian citizenship again.

Second citizenship also termination - If any Indian citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship of the whole country, then he automatically loses the citizenship of India. This is because India does not accept dual citizenship. suppose citizens of India and any other country cannot be together. Either a citizen of India or not. However, this provision also does not apply during the war. Deprivation of citizenship Now let us talk about the circumstances when the central government itself can terminate Indian citizenship.

If a person acquires Indian citizenship by fraud, then if that Indian citizen does not show allegiance or loyalty to the Constitution of India. In times of war, if that citizen illegally carried on communication or trade. If a citizen has been imprisoned for a term of two years within five years of his incarceration. If a citizen has resided outside India for more than seven years. But how do Indian citizens renounce citizenship?

To give up Indian citizenship, it is mandatory to apply for Renunciation Certificate i.e. Surrender Certificate or Surrender Certificate. Along with this, a stamp is also necessary which says canceled due to foreign nationality. Let us tell you that an Indian passport with a canceled ticket cannot be considered the relinquishment of citizenship of any citizen.

There are several procedures to be followed while applying for relinquishment. For example, along with the correctly filled application form, the current photograph and necessary documents i.e. documents have to be submitted. Passport size photograph and address proof, both active or expired passports are uploaded on the website.

For the declaration of relinquishing Indian citizenship, the application has to be submitted online at indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in. The declarant is also required to submit his/her current address in India with supporting documents and also to state whom he/she wants to contact for the hard copy of the submitted application form.

It is also necessary to identify your jurisdiction and the area of ​​service centers when inquiring about the taxes to be levied for appropriate tickets and certificates. It is illegal to continue using an Indian passport after renouncing Indian citizenship, for which the defaulter can be punished.

How to get Surrender Certificate. The resignation certificate and surrender letter are the same. This is a chargeable service, you can apply for Surrender Certificate online on the Passport Seva website www.passport.gov.in. Later you have to go to the passport office with the necessary documents.

To surrender, the city also has to submit proof of foreign nationality along with an Indian passport. There is no need for police verification for this certificate. If the application for a surrender letter is being made for any reason other than acquiring foreign nationality or relinquishing Indian citizenship, it cannot be done online. For that, it is necessary to go to the passport office.

Now also know the fee of surrender certificate. If an Indian citizen has acquired the nationality of another country after 1st June 2010, the fee is ₹5,000 and for foreign nationality before 1st June 2010, the fee is ₹5,00. Know some important steps related to citizenship. The year 2018 includes a column under the Ministry of Home Affairs Citizenship Rules 2009 Citizenship Rules Nine, in which the applicant can state the reason why the applicant intends to acquire foreign citizenship and leave Indian citizenship?

In the year 2019, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act. Under this, the law was amended to expedite the grant of citizenship to religious minorities, especially Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India.

Then in the year 2021, the Union Home Ministry simplified the process of relinquishing citizenship. A provision was made for applicants to upload their multiple documents online with a time limit of 60 days to complete this process.