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Over 8 lakh Indians have given up their citizenship since 2015, home ministry tells Lok Sabha

Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai also told Lok Sabha that a process to renounce Indian citizenship online has been put in place.

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New Delhi: A total of 8,81,254 Indians have given up their citizenship since 2015, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lok Sabha Tuesday.

According to the data tabled in the Parliament, 1,31,489 Indians renounced their citizenship in 2015. In 2016, the number was 1,41,603. In 2017, over 1,33,049 Indians renounced their citizenship. In 2018, the number stood at 1,34,561. In 2019, the number rose to 1,44,017 and in 2020 it came down to 85,242. In 2021 it again rose to 1,11,287 Indians who renounced their citizenship (till 30 September).

Most Indians renounced their Indian citizenship in the year 2019, data shows.

The question in this regard was raised by Telangana Rashtriya Samiti leader Kotha Prabhakar Reddy and was responded to by Minister of State (Home), Nityanand Rai.

India does not offer dual citizenship so people seeking citizenship in other countries must give up their Indian passport. However, Indians who renounce citizenship can still apply for an Overseas Citizen of India card, which gives them the benefit of residing and even running a business in India.

On 30 November, the Modi government had informed the Parliament that over 6 lakh Indians gave up Indian citizenship for that of another country between 2017 and 30 September 2021.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Nityanand Rai had said while 1.33 lakh Indians gave up citizenship in 2017, the number stood at 1.34 lakh in 2018, 1.44 lakh in 2019, 85,248 in 2020 and 1.11 lakh in 2021, till 30 September.

Citizenship can be renounced online

When asked if the government has simplified the process for Indians who want to renounce their citizenship and if that can be done online, Rai said, “Citizenship of India may be renounced under provisions of Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 read with rule 23 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009.”

On the question if it can be done online, Rai said, “The online portal for renunciation of Indian citizenship has been activated in August, 2021. End-to-end processing of renunciation applications is carried out in the online Citizenship Module.”


Also read: It’s time for India to adopt dual citizenship


 

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