Bare ActOfficial Text of Article 10
10. Continuance of the rights of citizenship.—
Every person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part shall, subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament, continue to be such citizen.
Articles 5 to 8 decided who became a citizen in 1950. Article 10 answers the next question: do they stay citizens? Yes.
Anyone who is a citizen (Article 5) or is "deemed to be" a citizen (Articles 6 and 8) continues to be a citizen. Their citizenship is not a one-day ticket.
But this is "subject to any law made by Parliament". So Parliament can make rules on how citizenship can be given up, ended or taken away, for example by renunciation, by voluntarily taking foreign citizenship, or by deprivation for fraud.
🏠 Everyday Analogy
Your Aadhaar-linked bank account does not close at the end of the day you open it. It stays active for life, but subject to RBI rules: if you close it yourself, or the rules say it must be closed for fraud, it ends. Article 10 makes citizenship work the same way, with Parliament in the role of RBI.
🇮🇳 Real Indian Example
Kamla became a citizen under Article 5 in 1950. She remained an Indian citizen all her life, voting in every election. Her nephew, also a 1950 citizen, later took Canadian citizenship; under the Citizenship Act made by Parliament, his Indian citizenship ended. Both outcomes follow Article 10.
Quick RevisionKey Points to Remember
- Citizens under Part II continue to be citizens.
- Covers both people who are citizens and those deemed to be citizens.
- Continuance is subject to laws made by Parliament.
- Parliament's law on loss of citizenship: renunciation, termination, deprivation (Sections 8, 9 and 10 of the Citizenship Act, 1955).
UPSC · State PSC · JudiciaryExam Corner
- Three ways to lose citizenship (Citizenship Act, 1955): renunciation (Sec. 8), termination on voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship (Sec. 9), deprivation by the Central Government, e.g. for fraud or disloyalty (Sec. 10).
- Article 10 shows that Part II gives security to citizens but keeps flexibility for Parliament.
- Articles 10 and 11 together hand the long-term law of citizenship to Parliament.
Practice MCQTest Yourself: Article 10
Article 10 says every citizen under Part II continues to be a citizen, subject to:
Doubts ClearedFrequently Asked Questions
Can a citizen under Article 5 ever lose citizenship?
Yes, but only in the ways Parliament's law allows: by giving it up, by voluntarily taking foreign citizenship, or by deprivation under the Citizenship Act.
What does "deemed to be a citizen" mean?
It means the law treats the person as a citizen, as under Articles 6 and 8, even if they did not meet the normal Article 5 test.
Which law currently controls continuance and loss of citizenship?
The Citizenship Act, 1955, made by Parliament under Article 11.