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Context:

The Union Home Minister launched the new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi.

OCI Scheme

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced in 2005 through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, allowing people of Indian origin to register as OCI cardholders.

OCI is not dual citizenship; cardholders cannot vote, hold public office, or enjoy certain constitutional rights.

Eligible individuals include those who were Indian citizens on or after January 26, 1950, or could have become citizens on that date. It also covers their children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, as well as spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders (married for at least two years).

• However, anyone who is or was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh—or whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were—cannot apply.

The OCI card grants lifelong visa-free travel to India, exemption from registering with Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), and equal economic, financial, and educational rights as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), except for buying agricultural or plantation properties.

It strengthens ties with the Indian diaspora, ensuring they stay connected to their roots. With over 5 million OCI cardholders globally, the demand for efficient digital services has increased.

OCI Services portal

It was launched in 2013, operates across 180+ Indian missions and processes about 2,000 applications daily. However, it faces challenges due to technological advancements over the past decade and feedback from cardholders about bulky processes and outdated features.The new portal introduces user-friendly features to simplify the application process and enhance user experience. 

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Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) 

Source: 

PIB