The citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes the modes of acquisition of citizenship as:
- Citizenship by birth: every person born in India on or after 26th january 1950 shall be a citizen of India by birth.
- Citizenship by dissent: a person born outside India on or after 26th january 1950 shall be the citizen of india by dissent if his father is a citizen of India at the time of person’s birth.
- Citizenship by registration: persons can acquire Indian citizenship by registering themselves to that effect before the prescribed authority eg. Person of Indian Origin who were ordianrily resident in India and have been so resident of six month immediately before making the application for registration, woment who are married to the citizens of India (by the citizenship Amendment Act of 1986 the conditions of acquiring citizenship by registration have been modified, now instead of six monts, five years of residence is required).
- Citizenship by naturalization: a foreigner can acquire Indian Citizenship on application for naturalization to the Govt.of India.
- Citizenship by Incorporation of territory: if any new territory becomes a part of India the Govt.of India shall specify the persons of the territory who shall be the citizens of India.