Article 5 of the Indian Constitution also provides for citizenship by incorporation of territories. This provision relates to territories that become part of India through a merger or accession process, such as the former princely states that joined India after independence.
When a territory becomes part of India, the persons who were already Indian citizens before the merger or accession continue to be Indian citizens. Additionally, any person who was born in the territory or whose parents were born in the territory and who would have been a citizen of India if the territory had been part of India at the time of their birth becomes an Indian citizen by virtue of the incorporation of the territory.
It is important to note that the process of incorporation of territories has largely been completed, and there are no territories currently in the process of joining India. Therefore, citizenship by incorporation of territories is not a significant pathway to Indian citizenship at present.
