Citizenship tests will be launched across the United Kingdom from Tuesday, in which immigrants, including Indians, will be asked a set of questions on life in Britain before appearing in a ceremony that would formally declare them British.
On Monday, ahead of the launch of the new initiative, Immigration Minister Tony McNulty published a set of sample questions for the 'Life in the UK' test, the last of a series of changes to help people become British, introduced by former Home Secretary David Blunkett.
People seeking to become British will take the test at one of 90 centres across the country, before taking part in a formal citizenship ceremony.
The number of people granted citizenship reached a record 141,000 in 2004, representing a rise of 12 percent from the previous year. People born in Asian or African countries accounted for 40 percent and 32 percent respectively of all citizenship applications, the principal nationalities being India, Pakistan and Somalia.
The Home Office said it wanted to create a new, more meaningful way of becoming a citizen in an effort to help people integrate and share in British values and traditions. Prospective new citizens already need to demonstrate sufficient working knowledge of English to help them get on.
"The measures we are introducing will help new citizens to gain a greater appreciation of the civic and political dimension of British citizenship and, in particular, to understand the rights and responsibilities that come with its acquisition," McNulty said "This will enable new citizens to play a full part in their wider community and will benefit both our society and economy."
Almost 60 percent of people born abroad and living in the UK take British citizenship within six years, according to figures from 2004. The Life in the UK citizenship guide for prospective new citizens includes information on British history and society, its institutions and political system.
It also contains practical issues key to integration, such as employment, healthcare, education and using public services like libraries. The 24 questions in the 45-minute test, taking which would cost £34, cover three specific sectors - British society, government and practical issues.
On language, prospective citizens are already required to prove that they have a working knowledge of English, based on completion of a college course.
Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, said his organisation welcomed the tests - "This needs a light touch as, I believe, was the intention of Professor Sir Bernard Crick when he was invited by the then Home Secretary to produce the framework."
But Best warned that 'the danger is that this will be seen as a way of excluding people from British citizenship. Although basic use of English is essential to get around, we should remember that many immigrants have made an enormous contribution to the life and economy of the UK and have become millionaires without mastering English'.
"The Bengalis who run the Indian restaurant trade worth over £3 billion a year are a very good example," he added.
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