The Kartarpur Corridor, a significant development in India’s international relations, now opens its doors to People of Indian Origin holding the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card. Here’s what you need to know about OCI, its benefits, restrictions, and its relation to the now-merged Person of Indian Origin (PIO) category.
Defining Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)
The Ministry of Home Affairs describes an OCI as an individual who was a citizen of India post-January 26th, 1950, or was qualified to become a citizen of India on the same date, or is a child or grandchild of such people, among other eligibility norms. However, Section 7A of the OCI card guidelines states anyone, including their parents or grandparents who have ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, cannot apply for OCI. Introduced in 2005, the government consolidated the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) category with the OCI category in 2015 through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Benefits of OCI Card
OCI Cardholders enjoy several privileges. They are allowed to visit India numerous times with a multipurpose lifelong visa and are exempted from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). If someone has held an OCI status for five years, they may apply for Indian citizenship. Special immigration counters are provided at all Indian international airports for OCI cardholders. Furthermore, OCI cardholders can open special bank accounts in India, buy non-agricultural properties, exercise ownership rights, and apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card.
Limitations of OCI Card
However, certain restrictions accompany the benefits of OCI. Cardholders do not receive voting rights, cannot secure a government job, or purchase agricultural land. They are also not allowed to travel to restricted areas without explicit government permission.
The Constitution and Citizenship
Citizenship is discussed from Articles 5 to 11 under Part II of the Constitution. Although it does not contain permanent or elaborate provisions, it identifies the individuals who became citizens of India on January 26th, 1950 – the day the Constitution was initiated. The Parliament is empowered to legislate regarding citizenship, which led to the creation of the Citizenship Act, 1955, last amended in 2015.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date OCI Introduced | 2005 |
| OCI and PIO Merger | 2015 |
| Benefits of OCI | Lifelong Visa, Exemption from FRRO registration, eligibility for Indian Citizenship |
| Restrictions for OCI | No voting rights, No Government Job, Cannot buy Agricultural land |
About Person of Indian Origin (PIO)
A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) refers to a foreign citizen, excluding those from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, who at any time held an Indian passport, or their parents/grandparents/great grandparents were born and permanently resided in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, or they are spouses of an Indian citizen or a PIO. In 2015, the PIO category was merged with the OCI category.
