aside from different categories of a nationality, the 1981 act also ceased to recognise commonwealth citizens as british subjects. there remain only two categories of people who are still british subjects: those (formerly known as british subjects without citizenship) who acquired british nationality through a connection with former british india, and those connected with the republic of ireland before 1949 who have made a declaration to retain british nationality. british subjects connected with former british india lose british nationality if they acquire another citizenship.