Acquisition and Termination — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
Citizenship Act Amendment 1986	1986	Introduced the concept of jus sanguinis by requiring that persons born in India after January 26, 1950, but before July 1, 1987, would be citizens only if either parent was a citizen at the time of birth. This marked the first departure from pure jus soli principle.	Began the shift from territorial to blood-based citizenship, addressing concerns about illegal immigration while maintaining inclusive policies for the existing population.
Citizenship Act Amendment 2003	2003	Further restricted jus soli by requiring that for persons born after December 3, 2004, at least one parent must be a citizen and the other must not be an illegal migrant. Also introduced mandatory registration for citizenship by descent within one year of birth.	Significantly tightened citizenship acquisition to prevent illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, while creating administrative challenges for genuine citizens.
Citizenship Amendment Act 2019	2019	Introduced religion-based criteria for fast-track naturalization, providing citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2014, reducing residency requirement from 12 to 6 years.	Created constitutional controversy over secularism and equality principles, sparked nationwide protests, and remains subject to Supreme Court challenge, fundamentally altering India's secular citizenship framework.
Citizenship Act Amendment 2015	2015	Introduced flexibility in automatic termination provisions by allowing the government to specify countries where acquisition of citizenship would not lead to loss of Indian citizenship, and relaxed some Overseas Citizen of India provisions.	Provided limited relief for diaspora communities seeking to maintain connections with India while acquiring foreign citizenship for practical purposes.

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