India citizenship test: requirements and civics quiz
India has no published official citizenship test question list. This page explains what naturalisation requires, links to the official source, and offers a free 22-question general civics quiz for learning. The quiz is not an official exam.
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Is there an official India citizenship test? We have not found a published official question list. Naturalisation requirements are summarised below with a link to the official source. The quiz on this page is a general civics quiz for learning and is not linked to any official process.
Does India have a citizenship test? How naturalisation works
Last reviewed: October 22, 2026 · Checked against the official source linked on this page.
India has no citizenship test. Naturalisation is governed by section 6 and the Third Schedule of the Citizenship Act 1955 and by the Citizenship Rules 2009. Instead of a civics exam, the Ministry of Home Affairs looks at your residence record, your character (sworn affidavits from you and two Indian citizens), your intention to live in India, your knowledge of an Indian language and, finally, an Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution taken before the District Collector within three months of the grant.
Residence and the main routes
The general route needs 12 years of qualifying residence: the 12 months immediately before you apply plus 11 years in aggregate out of the previous 14. Spouses of Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin register under section 5 after seven years. Since the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules took effect on 11 March 2024, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan who entered India before 31 December 2014 can apply under section 6B with only five years’ residence, through an online portal and an Empowered Committee chaired by the Director of Census Operations.
Language requirement
You must have “adequate knowledge” of one of the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Rules define this as being able to speak, read or write the language, and it is proved with a certificate from a recognised educational institution or public organisation, or by two Indian citizens of your locality. There is no language exam.
Procedure, fees and timing
Applications are filed online at indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in (Form VIII) with a bank challan of Rs 1,500, then routed from the District Collector (within 60 days) to the State Government (within 30 days) to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has no statutory deadline; decisions commonly take a year or more. Police and intelligence verification happens in practice, but no formal interview or exam is prescribed.
Dual citizenship
India does not allow dual citizenship. Article 9 of the Constitution and section 9 of the Act end Indian citizenship when a person voluntarily acquires another nationality, and applicants must undertake to renounce their existing citizenship. People of Indian origin who want to keep a foreign passport usually apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which is a lifelong visa and residence status, not citizenship.
The quiz below is a general civics quiz about India’s Constitution, institutions and symbols for learning; it is not part of any official process. For countries that do run a knowledge test, see which countries have a citizenship test.
| Official citizenship test | No. India has no published citizenship knowledge test. Naturalisation requirements still apply; see below and the official source. |
|---|---|
| How naturalisation works | There is no citizenship test. Naturalisation under section 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955 is assessed on residence, good character (affidavits from the applicant and two Indian citizens), intention to live in India, knowledge of a scheduled language and an Oath of Allegiance; the District Collector verifies the file and the Ministry of Home Affairs decides. |
| Language requirement | Adequate knowledge of one of the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, defined as being able to speak, read or write it. Proof is a certificate from a school, a recognised organisation or two local Indian citizens; there is no language exam. |
| Who it applies to | Foreign nationals aged 18 or over who have lived in India (or served the Government of India) for the 12 months before applying and for 11 of the previous 14 years. Spouses and persons of Indian origin register under section 5 after 7 years; eligible minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered before 31 December 2014 need 5 years under the CAA (section 6B). |
| Exemptions | No test exists, so there is nothing to be exempt from. India does not allow dual citizenship (Article 9 of the Constitution and section 9 of the Act): you must undertake to renounce your previous nationality. Foreign nationals of Indian origin usually choose the OCI card instead. |
Topics in the general civics quiz
- Constitution and governmentHead of state, parliament, courts and the constitution.7 questions
- History and national symbolsIndependence, key dates, flag, anthem and other national symbols.9 questions
- Geography and societyCapital, geography, languages, currency and public holidays.5 questions
- Naturalisation rulesWhat the law requires for citizenship: residence, language, tests, fees and dual nationality.1 questions
Sample questions
Answer: 26 January 1950. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day.
Answer: 28. India has 28 states and 8 union territories since the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
Answer: 15 August 1947. India gained independence from British rule on 15 August 1947, celebrated each year as Independence Day.
How to prepare
Collect the documents the Rules ask for first: residence proof for 12 of the last 14 years, two citizen affidavits and a language certificate.
Read the Citizenship Rules 2009 (Form VIII) so you know what the Collector checks; there is no exam to study for.
Use the quiz to learn how India's Constitution, Parliament and courts work – useful for life in India even though it is not tested.
India citizenship FAQ
Is there a citizenship test in India?
No. India has no civics or knowledge test. Naturalisation is assessed on 12 years of qualifying residence (11 of the last 14 years plus the last 12 months), good character, intention to stay, knowledge of one Eighth Schedule language and an Oath of Allegiance.
What is the language requirement for Indian citizenship?
Adequate knowledge of one of the 22 Eighth Schedule languages, which the Citizenship Rules define as being able to speak, read or write it. Proof is a certificate from a school, a recognised organisation or two local Indian citizens; there is no language exam.
Can I keep my original passport after becoming an Indian citizen?
No. India does not permit dual citizenship, and you must undertake to renounce your previous nationality before the certificate is issued. Foreign nationals of Indian origin usually choose the OCI card instead.
What did the CAA rules change in 2024 in India?
From 11 March 2024, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan who entered India before 31 December 2014 can apply under section 6B with five years' residence through an online portal and an Empowered Committee. Everyone else still uses the ordinary 11-year route.
How long does Indian naturalisation take and what does it cost?
The Collector and State Government must forward your file within 90 days in total, but the Ministry of Home Affairs has no statutory deadline and decisions commonly take a year or more. The application challan is Rs 1,500.