OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Polity)
Context: The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to grant citizenship to a 17-year-old girl who was born in India to parents holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards and US citizenship.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)
- Constitutionality: India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and
Citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. - History: Based on the recommendation of the High Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI).
- Amendment: Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category as has been specified in the Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 are eligible for registration as OCI.
- Key Features:
o Limitations: if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible.
o Not been given any voting rights, election to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council, holding Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc.
- Benefits:
o Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;
o Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India;
o Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
o Registered Overseas Citizen of India shall be treated at par with Non-Resident Indian in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.
o Registered Overseas Citizens of India shall be treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.
o Registered Overseas Citizens of India shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India
