NEW DELHI: A foreign national marrying an Indian will soon get Indian Citizenship without one year’s continuous stay, as mandated in The Citizenship Act, 1955.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is planning to amend certain clauses of the Act and has sought public opinion and suggestions on the government move.
The mandatory one year’s continuous stay, before making an application for Indian citizenship, is necessary under Clauses (a) (c) (f) and (g) of Subsection (1) of Sections five and six.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said representations had been received about the difficulties in fulfilling the criteria of one year’s continuous stay in India, on the ground that due to increased globalisation, there was an imperative need for people to go abroad to meet their economic, social, medical needs etc.
“The stipulation of one year’s continuous stay also causes genuine hardship in some personal situations, where personal travel abroad has an unavoidable/inevitable context and in the case of skilled professionals, on account of professional commitments.
“It is therefore proposed that Clauses (a) (c) (f) and (g) of Subsection (1) of Sections five and six may be suitably amended to allow for breaks for a total period not exceeding 30 days, during the prescribed period of one year immediately before making an application,” an MHA notification stated.