Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

Subject: Polity

Context: The government issued a consolidated list of rights that OCI enjoy.

Concept:

The OCI scheme came with the amendment of the Citizenship Act in 2005. Further in 2015 it was merged with the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card.
Individuals who do not have citizenship of any other country are not eligible to gain an OCI status.
Individuals whose parents or grandparents hold citizenship of Pakistan and Bangladesh are not eligible to apply.

The Ministry of Home Affairs defines an OCI as a person who:

Was a citizen of India on or after 26th January 1950; or
Was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950; or
Belong to a territory which became part of India after 15 august 1947; or
Is a child or grandchild of such a person; or
Is a minor child of the persons from any of the above category or either or both of the parents are citizens of India.
For foreign origin spouse of the Citizen of India or An OCI card holder: 1) Whose marriage is registered 2) Married for more than two years before the date of application

Benefits of OCI card:

OCI cardholders can enter India multiple times, get a multipurpose lifelong visa to visit India, and are exempt from registering with Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
If an individual is registered as an OCI for a period of five years, he/she is eligible to apply for Indian citizenship.
At all Indian international airports, OCI cardholders are provided with special immigration counters.
OCI cardholders can open special bank accounts in India, buy the non-farm property and exercise ownership rights and can also apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card.
On par with the Indian nationals in the matter of domestic air fares, entry fees to monuments and public places.
Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in adoption of children, appearing in competitive exams, purchase or sale of immovable property barring agricultural land and farmhouses, and pursuing professions such as doctors, lawyers, architects, and chartered accountants

Limitations

OCI cardholders do not get voting rights, cannot hold a government job and purchase agricultural or farmland.
They cannot travel to restricted areas without government permission.
Need prior permission for a set of activities that include research, journalism, mountaineering, missionary or Tablighi work, and visits to restricted areas