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Tamil Nadu (TNBSE)Class 8 Social Studies★ 5-7 marks in the TN Class 8 annual exam through book-back MCQs, fill-ups and short answers

Citizens and Citizenship

Samacheer Kalvi (TN State Board) Class 8 Social Science — Civics Chapter 2, Citizens and Citizenship. The meaning of a citizen and citizenship, single citizenship in India (Articles 5–11), the five ways of acquiring citizenship under the Citizenship Act of 1955, the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and the Fundamental Duties added by the 42nd Amendment. Notes with the actual book-back questions, common mistakes and quick revision.

⏱ 16 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Define citizen and citizenship
2Explain single citizenship in India
3List the five ways of acquiring citizenship
4Distinguish Fundamental Rights and Duties
5Recall the relevant Articles and amendment

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Why this chapter matters

Citizens and Citizenship explains what it means to be a citizen, how citizenship is acquired and the rights and duties that come with it. Single citizenship, the five ways under the 1955 Act and the 42nd Amendment duties are directly tested book-back content in the TN Class 8 exam.

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Chapter 1 — How the State Government Works

Government and the Constitution.

Citizens and Citizenship — Class 8 Social Science (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 8 Social Science, Civics — Chapter 2. Who is a citizen, and what rights and duties come with it.

1. About this lesson

This lesson explains who is a citizen, single citizenship, the ways of acquiring citizenship, and the Fundamental Rights and Duties.

2. Citizen and citizenship

A citizen is a person of a country who enjoys its legal rights and privileges and is obliged to obey its laws and perform duties.
Citizenship is the status that lets a person legally live in a country and take part in its civic life.
Part II, Articles 5–11 of the Constitution deal with citizenship. India provides only single citizenship (one Indian citizenship, not separate state citizenship).

3. Acquiring citizenship

The Citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes five ways to acquire citizenship:

by birth,
by descent,
by registration,
by naturalisation, and
by incorporation of territory.

4. Fundamental Rights and Duties

Citizens of India enjoy Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution (such as the right to equality, freedom, and constitutional remedies).
A set of Fundamental Duties was added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) — for example, respecting the Constitution, the National Flag and the Anthem, and protecting the environment.

5. Worked examples

Example 1. How many types of citizenship does India provide? Single citizenship (only one).

Example 2. How many ways of acquiring citizenship does the 1955 Act list? Five (birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, incorporation of territory).

Example 3. Which amendment added the Fundamental Duties? The 42nd Amendment.

6. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)

I. Choose the correct answer

India provides ____ citizenship — (a) single / (b) double. Ans: (a) single.
Citizenship is dealt with in Articles ____ of the Constitution — (a) 5–11 / (b) 12–35. Ans: (a) 5–11.
The Citizenship Act was passed in — (a) 1955 / (b) 1976. Ans: (a) 1955.
The Fundamental Duties were added by the — (a) 42nd Amendment / (b) 44th Amendment. Ans: (a) 42nd Amendment.
Acquiring citizenship by living long and applying is by — (a) birth / (b) naturalisation. Ans: (b) naturalisation.

II. Fill in the blanks 6. A citizen is a person who enjoys the legal rights of a country and obeys its laws. 7. The Citizenship Act lists five ways to acquire citizenship. 8. Citizens of India enjoy Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

III. Answer briefly 9. Name the five ways of acquiring Indian citizenship. 10. What is meant by single citizenship?

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Saying India has double (dual) citizenship like the USA. Fix: India provides only single citizenship.
Mistake: Confusing Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties. Fix: Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution; Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment.
Mistake: Giving the wrong year for the Citizenship Act. Fix: The Citizenship Act was passed in 1955.

8. Quick revision

Civics Ch 2 · citizens and citizenship.
Citizen = person with legal rights and duties; citizenship = legal status to live in a country.
India = single citizenship; Articles 5–11 of the Constitution.
Citizenship Act 1955: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, incorporation of territory.
Fundamental Rights (Constitution) + Fundamental Duties (42nd Amendment, 1976).

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Citizen / citizenship

person with legal rights & duties / legal status to live in a country

Articles 5–11.

Single citizenship

one Indian citizenship (not state-wise)

Unlike the USA.

Acquiring citizenship

birth · descent · registration · naturalisation · incorporation of territory

Citizenship Act 1955.

Rights & Duties

Fundamental Rights (Constitution); Duties (42nd Amendment)

1976.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying India has double (dual) citizenship like the USA

✓ India provides only single citizenship.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties

✓ Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution; Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment.

WATCH OUT

✗ Giving the wrong year for the Citizenship Act

✓ The Citizenship Act was passed in 1955.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Choose the correct answer

Book-back MCQs on single citizenship, Articles, the 1955 Act and the 42nd Amendment.

Questions

Fill in the blanks

Citizen, the five ways and Fundamental Rights.

Questions

Answer briefly

Ways of acquiring citizenship, single citizenship.

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· MCQ

India provides ____ citizenship.

▶ Show solution

single.

Q2EASY· MCQ

The Citizenship Act was passed in the year ____.

▶ Show solution

1955.

Q3EASY· MCQ

The Fundamental Duties were added by the ____ Amendment.

▶ Show solution

42nd.

Q4EASY· Fill in the blanks

Citizenship is dealt with in Articles ____ of the Constitution.

▶ Show solution

5–11.

Q5MEDIUM· Answer briefly

Name the five ways of acquiring Indian citizenship.

▶ Show solution

By birth, by descent, by registration, by naturalisation and by incorporation of territory (Citizenship Act, 1955).

Q6MEDIUM· Answer briefly

What is meant by single citizenship?

▶ Show solution

It means every Indian holds only one citizenship — of India as a whole — and not a separate citizenship for each state, so the same rights apply across the country.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Civics Chapter 2 of Samacheer Kalvi Class 8 Social Science.
•Citizen = person with legal rights and duties; citizenship = legal status to live in a country.
•India provides single citizenship; Articles 5–11 of the Constitution deal with it.
•Citizenship Act 1955: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, incorporation of territory.
•Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution.
•Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976).

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 5-7 marks across book-back MCQ, fill-ups and short answers

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / Fill	1	3-5	Single citizenship, Acts, amendment
Short Answer	2-3	1-2	Ways of acquiring citizenship
Application	2	1	Rights and duties

Prep strategy

Define citizen and citizenship clearly
Memorise the five ways of acquiring citizenship
Remember India = single citizenship
Pair Rights with the Constitution and Duties with the 42nd Amendment

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Identity

Citizenship gives you a legal place in your country.

Rights

It entitles you to vote and to Fundamental Rights.

Responsibility

It reminds us of our duties towards the nation.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

List the five ways of acquiring citizenship
Quote single citizenship and Articles 5–11
Tie the Citizenship Act to 1955
Link Fundamental Duties to the 42nd Amendment

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Compare single citizenship in India with dual citizenship in the USA.
List five Fundamental Duties of an Indian citizen.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN Class 8 Annual ExamHigh

TNPSC Foundation / PolityHigh

School unit testsHigh

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

To strengthen national unity — every Indian is a citizen of India alone, with the same rights everywhere, rather than holding a separate citizenship for each state.

Fundamental Rights are guarantees the State must protect (like equality and freedom); Fundamental Duties are responsibilities expected of every citizen, such as respecting the Constitution and the environment.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

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Social Studies flashcards

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