‘Babies born in planes’, Partition: How Constituent Assembly debated citizenship
The Constituent Assembly's debate on citizenship in August 1949 highlighted conflicting views on religion, ancestry, and birthplace, with B. R. Ambedkar's draft ultimately prevailing. The discussions, marked by nearly 140 amendments, revealed tensions over how to define Indian citizenship, especially concerning Partition refugees and migration. Ultimately, the Constitution adopted a secular, territorial approach, reflecting a compromise among the differing perspectives.