Citizenship: Rights and Duties – Class 8 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

Chapter overview

A citizen is a full member of a country who enjoys its rights and has duties towards it. India has single citizenship under the Constitution and the Citizenship Act of 1955. Citizens enjoy Fundamental Rights and are expected to follow Fundamental Duties, which together make democracy work.

Citizenship in India

• India has single citizenship: a person is a citizen of India, not of a separate state.
• Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration and naturalisation.
• Citizens can vote, contest elections and hold certain public offices that non-citizens cannot.

Fundamental Rights

• Right to equality (Articles 14–18), right to freedom (Articles 19–22), right against exploitation (Articles 23–24), right to freedom of religion (Articles 25–28), cultural and educational rights (Articles 29–30) and right to constitutional remedies (Article 32).
• Rights have reasonable limits to protect public order, security and the rights of others.

Fundamental Duties

• Article 51A lists eleven duties, added by the 42nd Amendment (1976), with the eleventh (education of children aged 6–14) added in 2002.
• Duties include respecting the Constitution, national flag and anthem, protecting the environment, promoting harmony, developing scientific temper and safeguarding public property.
• Rights and duties go together: enjoying rights responsibly means respecting the rights of others.

Key terms

Citizen

a full member of a country who enjoys its rights and has duties towards it

Naturalisation

the process by which a foreigner becomes a citizen after living in the country for a required period

Fundamental Duties

the moral duties of citizens listed in Article 51A of the Constitution

Single citizenship

a system in which people are citizens of the whole country only, not of separate states

Important questions with answers

Quick revision

• Single citizenship; Citizenship Act 1955.
• Citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation.
• Six Fundamental Rights; Article 32 remedies.
• Eleven Fundamental Duties in Article 51A.

Exam tips

• Remember the six Fundamental Rights with their article numbers.
• Link each duty to an action in daily life: e.g. 'protect the environment' → planting trees.

Practice MCQs

1. India provides

   1. dual citizenship
   2. state citizenship only
   3. single citizenship
   4. no citizenship
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) single citizenship. People are citizens of India as a whole.

2. The Fundamental Duties are listed in

   1. Article 14
   2. Article 51A
   3. Article 32
   4. Article 370
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Article 51A. They were added in 1976.

3. Which of these is a Fundamental Duty

   1. protecting the natural environment
   2. right to vote
   3. right to equality
   4. right to freedom of speech
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) protecting the natural environment. It is a citizen's responsibility.

4. The Citizenship Act was passed in

   1. 1947
   2. 1950
   3. 1955
   4. 1976
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) 1955. It explains how citizenship is acquired and lost.

5. Becoming a citizen after living in India for the required period is called

   1. descent
   2. naturalisation
   3. registration by birth
   4. deportation
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) naturalisation. It applies to foreigners.

6. The Fundamental Duties were added by the

   1. 42nd Amendment
   2. 61st Amendment
   3. 73rd Amendment
   4. 86th Amendment only
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) 42nd Amendment. The eleventh duty was added in 2002.

7. Why do Fundamental Rights have reasonable limits

   1. to stop people from enjoying them
   2. to end democracy
   3. to give unlimited power to the state
   4. to protect public order, security and the rights of others
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) to protect public order, security and the rights of others. Rights must not harm others or society.

8. The eleventh Fundamental Duty, added in 2002, concerns

   1. voting
   2. paying taxes
   3. providing opportunities for education to children aged 6–14
   4. military service
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) providing opportunities for education to children aged 6–14. Parents and guardians are responsible for children's education.