Citizenship Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6 CBSE Notes 2025-26

Citizenship refers to the idea of full and equal membership in a political community, such as a state or nation. It grants people not just an identity linked to their country (for example, as Indians, Japanese, or Germans), but also certain rights, protections, and responsibilities that come from being a member of that community. The meaning and practice of citizenship have developed over centuries and continue to be discussed and expanded, especially in today’s diverse societies.

What Citizenship Means

In most democratic countries, citizenship provides rights such as the right to vote, freedom of speech and belief, and access to basic needs like education or minimum wages. These rights are not always uniform everywhere but usually have common features, such as equality of status and access to justice.

People expect their state to protect their rights even when they travel abroad. However, there are millions around the world — such as refugees or illegal migrants — who lack any citizenship. Being denied citizenship leaves people vulnerable, without state protection or a stable identity.

Struggles for Equal Citizenship

Throughout history, many struggles have been fought for equal citizenship and rights. For instance, the French Revolution of 1789 was one such fight in Europe; anti-colonial movements in Asia and Africa included demands for equal citizenship; and in South Africa, black Africans struggled for decades to win equal rights from the white minority rule, a fight that ended only in the 1990s.

In India, social movements like the women’s movement and the Dalit movement continue the effort to realize meaningful equality for all citizens. Each right that exists today has been secured through efforts from different sections of society.

Citizenship: Rights and Responsibilities

Citizenship is not only about rights granted by the state but also about how individuals interact with each other and their obligations to society. Legal obligations, like following laws, are important, but so are moral responsibilities—such as contributing to the welfare of the community, conserving culture, and protecting natural resources. Active citizen participation, whether through voting, community work, or voicing concerns, helps keep a society democratic and fair.

Full and Equal Membership: Insiders and Outsiders

Often, groups within a country may try to restrict resources, jobs, and facilities to “insiders”, excluding “outsiders”, even when both are citizens. For example, there have been disputes in cities like Mumbai, with slogans such as “Mumbai for Mumbaikars”, or the call for state quotas in jobs and admissions. Such issues raise questions about what equal citizenship truly means. Should citizens have unrestricted rights to move, settle, and work anywhere within the country, regardless of their background?

• Freedom of movement within the country is a constitutional right in India, vital for workers seeking employment in different regions. For example, IT workers from around India go to Bengaluru, and nurses from Kerala are found across the nation.
• Despite this, there is often local resistance to migrants, sometimes leading to calls for restricting certain opportunities or violence against “outsiders”.
• Arguments in support of these rights emphasize equality and harmonized development, while those against cite concerns over limited resources or cultural identity.

Debates on Equal Rights

Equal citizenship also means providing everyone, rich or poor, with basic rights and a minimum standard of living. Cities have large populations of poor people—slum dwellers, street vendors, and daily-wage workers—who may not always be welcomed by established residents, even though their work is necessary for the local economy.

The living conditions in slums are often very poor—overcrowded, unsanitary, lacking basic facilities—and slum-dwellers typically do not receive enough municipal support.

• Rights such as access to housing and livelihood have been recognized by the Supreme Court of India (e.g., the Olga Tellis case), which held that the right to life includes the right to shelter and livelihood.
• The State and NGOs are increasingly aware of these issues—policies such as the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors (2004) were created to offer legal recognition and regulate street vending.
• Tribal peoples and forest dwellers, dependent on natural resources for their way of life, face challenges from industrialization and commercial interests, leading to conflicts between development policies and rights of indigenous communities.

The Idea of National Identity

Nations provide a shared political identity, expressed through symbols like flags, anthems, and official languages. However, each country is diverse—by religion, language, ethnicity, and other factors. Ideally, national citizenship should be inclusive, so all citizens can feel a sense of belonging. Yet, in many countries, some find it easier to identify with or access full citizenship than others, often due to historical or social reasons.

• Examples: France expects public assimilation into French culture; Israel and Germany may prioritize religion or ethnicity when granting citizenship.
• India, as a secular, democratic nation, tries to provide inclusive citizenship to all, accommodating vast diversity through provisions in the Constitution. Rights of minorities, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and women are specifically protected.
• Despite these efforts, many social groups in India—such as dalits, women, tribal peoples, and those displaced by development—still need to fight for the full realization of their citizenship rights.

Universal and Global Citizenship

While the ideal is that everyone should enjoy citizenship somewhere, millions remain stateless. People may migrate due to war, famine, or persecution, and sometimes receive only temporary refuge. Stateless people lack legal rights, cannot work or educate children legally, and may live for years in camps, depending on international organizations like the UN. India has welcomed refugees such as the Dalai Lama and his followers but many remain stateless for generations.

Some thinkers suggest moving beyond just national citizenship to a broader idea of global citizenship. The interconnected world makes people aware of events and issues across national boundaries: for example, during the 2004 tsunami, people around the globe responded with aid. This sense of shared concern could encourage responsibility towards global problems like refugees, climate change, and pandemics.

• While national citizenship remains important because it ties citizens to rights and protections within a state, global citizenship calls for an awareness that people around the world are linked, and problems can often only be solved collectively.

Key Takeaways

Citizenship in democratic societies includes both rights and responsibilities: access to equality, justice, basic necessities, participation in governance, and the need to contribute to the larger good. The concept has constantly evolved in response to social struggles and remains a project “in progress,” especially in a country as diverse as India. Issues of migration, inclusion, protection of minorities, and rising global challenges mean that citizenship will continue to be a highly relevant and evolving concept for students and societies in the future.

CBSE Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6 Notes – Citizenship: Key Points for Quick Revision

These revision notes cover all the major concepts of Citizenship from the Class 11 Political Science NCERT syllabus, including rights, duties, and real-world examples of citizenship struggles. With a clear focus on full and equal membership, these pointers make last-minute exam preparation easier. Use them to quickly understand debates on national identity, inclusion, and global perspectives.

Grasp essential topics such as the relationship between citizens and the nation, universal citizenship, and challenges faced by refugees. These notes help you recall definitions, case studies, and key features of citizenship needed for writing strong exam answers. Stay updated on how citizenship connects with equality and social justice in India and beyond.