**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2728, addressed on August 5, 2025, regarding dual citizenship for the Indian diaspora. The Ministry states that current provisions in Article 9 and 11 of the Constitution of India, along with Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, do not permit dual citizenship. Therefore, the government does not have a proposal to grant dual citizenship to members of the Indian diaspora holding foreign nationality, including those from the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia. Furthermore, there are no plans to expand the existing Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) framework to include property rights, voting rights, or simplified renaturalization pathways for former Indian citizens. The response was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and related matters.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding dual citizenship.
USA: The United States of America, a country from which the Indian diaspora may seek dual citizenship.
UK: The United Kingdom, a country from which the Indian diaspora may seek dual citizenship.
Canada: A country from which the Indian diaspora may seek dual citizenship.
Australia: A country from which the Indian diaspora may seek dual citizenship.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI): An immigration status allowing foreign citizens of Indian origin to live and work in India indefinitely.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which currently does not allow dual citizenship as per Article 9 and 11.
Citizenship Act, 1955: An Act of the Parliament of India that regulates Indian citizenship and which, along with the Constitution, does not allow dual citizenship.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2728
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5TH AUGUST, 2025/ SARVANA 14, 1947 (SAKA)
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
2728. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any proposal to grant dual citizenship to
members of the Indian diaspora holding foreign nationality, particularly
from the USA, UK, Canada or Australia and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Ministry has studied models of dual nationality granted by
other countries to strengthen diaspora engagement and if so, the details
thereof; and
(c) whether the Government is open to expanding the existing Overseas
Citizen of India (OCI) framework to include property rights, voting rights or
simplified re-naturalization pathways for former Indian citizens, if so, the
details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) & (b)
The provisions of Article 9 and 11 of the Constitution of India read
with Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 do not allow dual citizenship.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2728 FOR 05.08.2025
(c)
No Sir. There is no proposal under consideration to expand the
existing OCI framework to include property rights, voting rights or
simplified re-naturalization pathways for former Indian citizens.
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