Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Scheme |ForumIAS

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News: On May 20, 2025, recently revamped OCI services portal was launched. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Scheme.

About Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Scheme

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced by the Government of India through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in 2005.
This initiative was designed to strengthen India’s engagement with the global Indian diaspora by granting certain privileges to foreign nationals of Indian origin, enabling them to maintain close ties with India.

Eligibility: Persons of Indian origin who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date, can register as OCI cardholders. However, those who are or had been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh, or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were citizens of these countries, are not eligible for OCI status.
Privileges Granted: OCI cardholders enjoy several benefits, including:
- Visa-free travel to India.
- Exemption from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for any length of stay in India.
- Parity with NRIs in financial, economic, and educational fields (except for acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties).
- Permission to undertake activities such as employment, education, and residence in India.
Not a Dual Citizenship: The OCI status does not confer political rights such as voting, holding constitutional posts, or contesting elections.

Aim: To provide a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly experience
The portal is operational in over 180 Indian missions worldwide and 12 FRROs, processing around 2,000 applications daily.

Simplified Registration: Enhanced user interface with intuitive navigation and a segmented registration menu.
Auto-Fill and Edit Options: Automatically fills user profile details and allows editing before final submission.
Integrated Dashboard: Displays both completed and partially filled applications.
Document Management: Categorization of required documents based on application type, and an in-built image cropping tool for photos and signatures.
Online Payment & Reminders: Integrated payment gateway and alerts to verify details before submission.
Informed Assistance: Integrated FAQ section and display of eligibility and required documents.

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