CBSE Class 11 · Citizenship

Citizen and Nation, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship (Class 11 Political Science, Chapter 6)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Nation states define citizenship by territory, culture and history; democratic states aim at inclusive identity, but France stresses assimilation and Israel and Germany have given priority to religion or ethnic origin. India's citizenship is secular and inclusive and is acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or inclusion of territory. Stateless people face a dilemma; global citizenship is debated.

Notice that five different routes lead to the same equal status: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and inclusion of territory.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship

Why this topic matters. Comparing nations' definitions of citizenship, the ways of acquiring Indian citizenship and the global citizenship debate are 3-5 mark questions that require balanced answers.

1. Citizen and nation. The nation state is modern; French revolutionaries (1789) made early claims of national sovereignty and citizens' democratic rights. Nation states claim that borders define a territory and a unique culture and shared history, expressed in flag, anthem, language and ceremonies. Democratic states try to make national identity inclusive, but in practice identities make it easier for some citizens to identify with the state, and easier to extend citizenship to some than to others, true even of the United States.

2. Examples. France: secular and inclusive; citizens are expected to assimilate into the national culture in public life and keep personal beliefs private; defining public and private is hard (Sikh boys' turbans and Muslim girls' headscarves in schools). Israel and Germany: religion or ethnic origin may be given priority; in Germany Turkish workers once encouraged to come have demanded automatic citizenship for children born and raised there.

3. India. A secular, democratic nation state; the freedom movement united religions, regions and cultures, and Partition (1947) strengthened the resolve to keep the nation secular and inclusive. The Constitution sought full and equal citizenship for SCs and STs, women and remote communities without forcing people to give up beliefs, languages or practices. Citizenship provisions are in Part Two and later laws: acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or inclusion of territory. No discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Democratic citizenship is a project, an ideal pursued through negotiation, with continuing struggles by the women's movement, Dalit movement and people displaced by development projects.

4. Stateless people. Each state fixes criteria for membership in its constitution and laws and uses even walls and fences to keep unwanted people out. People displaced by war, persecution or famine whom no state accepts become stateless or refugees (for example in Darfur, and Palestinian, Burmese and Bangladeshi refugees), living in camps or as illegal migrants, often unable to work legally, educate children or own property. The UN appointed a High Commissioner for Refugees. States face a humanitarian and political dilemma: they accept those fleeing persecution but fear unmanageable numbers and security risks. India gave refuge to persecuted people such as the Dalai Lama and his followers (1959), but few refugees gain citizenship. This challenges the promise of democratic citizenship that rights are for all.

5. Global citizenship. An interconnected world: global sympathy after the 2004 tsunami; international terrorist networks; the UN working against bird flu. Arguments for: people already feel linked across borders; states face problems they cannot solve alone; it would help with cross-border problems like migrants and stateless people. Limits: problems like inequality within a country need national solutions, and global citizenship should supplement, not replace, national citizenship.

Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship: key facts

Ways to acquire Indian citizenship: Birth
Descent
Registration
Naturalisation
Inclusion of territory; Part Two of the Constitution.
Models: France assimilation in public life
Israel and Germany religion or ethnic origin has had priority
India secular and inclusive; Compare.
Stateless people: Displaced by war, persecution, famine
Camps or illegal migrants
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Dalai Lama 1959; Dilemma of states.
Global citizenship: For: interconnected world, cross-border problems | Limits: supplements, not replaces, national citizenship; Debate.

France	assimilation in public life
Israel and Germany	religion or ethnic origin has had priority
India	secular and inclusive

How to answer Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship questions

Comparison of nations' citizenship uses the basis of inclusion.

1State each nation's basis (assimilation, ethnic origin, secular inclusion).
2Give a problem each faces.
3Conclude with India's ideal as a continuing project.
4Keep wording neutral about political positions.

Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Born in India

Suppose a child is born in India to parents who are Indian citizens.

How is citizenship acquired?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

By birth.
One of the five ways in the chapter.

Answer: By birth.

Memory hook: Born here, citizen.

Camp after a conflict

Suppose thousands flee a war and live in a camp with no state accepting them.

What are they called?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Displaced by war, no state accepts them.
Stateless people or refugees.

Answer: Stateless people or refugees.

Memory hook: No state accepts.

Tricks to remember Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

B-D-R-N-I
Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalisation, Inclusion of territory
Use it when: Indian citizenship.
Assimilate, ethnic, inclusive
France, Israel/Germany, India
Use it when: Models.
Supplement not replace
Global citizenship
Use it when: Limit.

Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Acquiring citizenship · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

When a territory is added to India, the people of that territory become citizens by:
(A) birth
(B) descent
(C) inclusion of territory
(D) naturalisation

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Citizenship by inclusion of territory is one of the five ways (1 mark).

Answer: (C)

Example 2: Stateless people · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Who are stateless people and which UN office helps them? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

People displaced by war, persecution or famine whom no state accepts (1 mark).
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (1 mark).

Answer: Stateless people are those displaced by war, persecution or famine whom no state accepts and who cannot return; the UN has a High Commissioner for Refugees to help them.

Example 3: Indian citizenship · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Describe the main features of Indian citizenship. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Secular and inclusive, shaped by the freedom movement and Partition (1 mark).
Acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or inclusion of territory (1 mark).
No discrimination only on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth; minority rights protected (1 mark).

Answer: India defines itself as a secular, democratic nation state and its citizenship is meant to be inclusive, a choice strengthened by Partition. Citizenship is acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or inclusion of territory under Part Two of the Constitution and later laws. There is no discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and minority rights are protected.

Example 4: Assertion and reason: France · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): France expects assimilation into national culture in public life.
Reason (R): Defining the public and private spheres, for example for religious symbols in schools, is difficult.
(A) Both true, R explains A
(B) Both true, R does not explain A
(C) A true, R false
(D) A false, R true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Both are true; R describes a difficulty and does not explain the expectation of assimilation (1 mark).

Answer: (B)

Example 5: HOTS: global citizenship · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Evaluate the idea of global citizenship using the 2004 tsunami, bird flu, the position of stateless people and the limit of national inequality; say whether it should replace national citizenship. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The 2004 tsunami and worldwide sympathy show people feel linked across borders (1 mark).
Problems like bird flu and terrorism cannot be solved by one state alone (1 mark).
Global citizenship could ensure stateless people basic rights wherever they live (1 mark).
Limits: inequality within a country needs national solutions (1 mark).
It should supplement, not replace, national citizenship (1 mark).

Answer: Worldwide sympathy after the 2004 tsunami shows that people already feel linked across borders, and bird flu and terrorism are problems that single states cannot solve alone. Global citizenship could help ensure stateless people basic rights wherever they live. But problems such as socio-economic inequality within a country need national solutions, and the chapter argues that global citizenship should supplement, not replace, national citizenship.

Where students lose marks in Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Saying Indian citizenship is by religion
Wrong basis.
Wrong working
Indian citizenship depends on religion.
Right working
It is secular, with no discrimination only on grounds of religion.
Do this: Say "secular and inclusive".
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Listing three ways of acquiring citizenship only
Incomplete.
Wrong working
Birth, descent and naturalisation.
Right working
Five: add registration and inclusion of territory.
Do this: Count to five.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Equating refugees with citizens of a camp country
Confused.
Wrong working
Refugees are citizens of the camp country.
Right working
They are stateless and lack full membership.
Do this: Say "stateless".
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Use neutral language about countries and communities.
List the five ways of acquiring citizenship.
End with the statement that citizenship is an ongoing project.

Practice questions on Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
The Dalai Lama and his followers were given refuge in India in:
(A) 1947
(B) 1959
(C) 1971
(D) 2004
Hint
Persecution.
Answer
(B)
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name two countries whose citizenship criteria the chapter compares with India's. (2 marks)
Hint
France, Germany.
Answer
France (assimilation) and Germany or Israel (where religion or ethnic origin has been given priority).
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
What is the dilemma faced by states with respect to refugees? (3 marks)
Hint
Humanitarian and political.
Answer
States face a humanitarian and political dilemma: many accept people fleeing persecution or war, but fear unmanageable numbers or security risks. Each state fixes its own criteria and uses powers such as walls to keep unwanted people out.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Explain the arguments in favour of global citizenship. (3 marks)
Hint
Linked, cross-border.
Answer
People already feel linked across borders, as in worldwide help after the 2004 tsunami; states face problems they cannot solve alone; and global citizenship could make it easier to tackle cross-border problems such as migrants and stateless people and ensure them basic rights.
Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
A student says "a nation's citizenship should be given only to people of one culture because borders define a unique culture". Evaluate with the democratic ideal, India and the examples of France and Germany. (4 marks)
Hint
Inclusive identity.
Answer
Nation states do claim a unique culture and shared history, but democratic states try to make identity inclusive for all. India defines citizenship as secular and inclusive, without discrimination only on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. France demands assimilation and Germany has given priority to ethnic origin, which cause difficulties for minorities and migrants, so tying citizenship to one culture conflicts with the democratic ideal.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Which Part of the Constitution has citizenship?Show answer
Part Two.
2.Which UN office helps refugees?Show answer
High Commissioner for Refugees.
3.Which year did the French Revolution claim national sovereignty?Show answer
1789.
4.What does global citizenship supplement?Show answer
National citizenship.

Citizen and Nation: Who Is Included, Indian Citizenship, Stateless People and Global Citizenship: frequently asked questions

Is India a nation of one culture?

No; the Constitution seeks equal citizenship without giving up beliefs and languages.

Why do states build walls?

To keep unwanted people out.

What happened in 1947?

Partition strengthened the resolve to keep the nation secular and inclusive.