Indian
citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration and naturalization.
The conditions and procedure for acquisition of Indian citizenship as per the
provision of the Citizenship Act, 1955 are given below:
•By Birth: When a person is born in
India, he is considered as citizen of India, subject to conditions under the
said act.
•By Descent: When a person is born outside
India, but his parents are citizens of India, then that person is considered as
a citizen of India, subject to conditions under the said act.
•By Registration: Indian Citizenship by
registration can be acquired by any person (not illegal migrant), subject to
conditions under the said act.
•By Naturalization: The Central Government
may grant a certificate of naturalization to any person (not illegal
migration), subject to certain qualifications like adequate knowledge of a
language specified in Eight Schedule of India, renounce his previous
citizenship etc
•By Incorporation of Territory: Like, when
Pondicherry became a part of India, the Government of India issued the
Citizenship (Pondicherry) Order, 1960 under Citizenship Act, 1955. People
residing in Pondicherry became citizens of India.