Provincial Citizenship: The Challenge of Domicile Politics to India's Single Citizenship
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Citizenship - Single Citizenship; Fundamental Rights - Articles 15, 16, 19; Federalism; States Reorganisation Commission).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India; Regionalism; Population and associated issues (Migration).
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Indian Constitution—features, significant provisions; Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.
Key Highlights from the News
The informal concept of "Provincial Citizenship" is gaining strength in states, challenging India's constitutional concept of "single citizenship."
This is based on domicile policies and "sons of the soil" politics, which are based on residence in the states.
This adversely affects Indian internal migrants who migrate from other states for employment and livelihood, and leads to discrimination against them.
Domicile politics in states like Jharkhand even challenge fundamental rights such as Article 16(2) of the Constitution (no discrimination in employment opportunities on the basis of residence).
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) of 1955 itself had warned that domicile policies are against the concept of Indian citizenship and are a threat to national unity.
Even when emphasizing unified citizenship at the national level, the strengthening of this regionalism at the state level is a major contradiction in Indian federalism.
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