Indian Diaspora and Issue of Dual Citizenship

Abstract

This article focuses on certain types of citizenship rights i.e. dual citizenship, provided by home countries to its persons who have migrated to other countries. Granting dual citizenship rights enables the home countries to leverage the potential of financial and human resources of their diaspora, encouraging both remittances and return migration. Citizenship is the fundamental right of the people of a country that provides them with legal and social identity. Countries that experience immigration, whether it be the sender of immigrants or receiver of immigrants have considered the serious concerns and implications of granting dual citizenship. The authors present a theoretical framework in dual citizenship where India, one of the fastest growing economies, is yet to adjudge its effects and impact. Today, national citizenship has been challenged by international citizenship. Therefore, India needs to rethink its decision to grant dual citizenship to its people migrating to different parts of the world. The Citizenship Act of 1955, which was amended in 2005 by the introduction of Overseas Citizenship of India, needs to be revisited and reconsidered in the international context. The paper also attempts to analyze the impacts and effects of granting dual citizenship.