Centre plans to cancel OCI cards: what is Overseas Citizenship of India

India recently decided to cancel the registration of many Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders for carrying out pro-Khalistan activities and anti-India propaganda in Canada.

• India has already suspended visa services in its Canadian missions and has directed to cut its diplomatic staff in India.

What is Overseas Citizenship of India?

• The OCI is given to registered overseas Indians under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and that provides long term visa free travel and stay in India with certain privileges normally not given to a foreign national.
• Benefits-
  • Multiple entry and multi-purpose lifelong visa to visit India;
  • Exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India;
  • Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
• It was implemented first in India under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 as recommended by L.M. Singhvi committee, set up in 2000.
• It earlier included the Persons of Indian Origin, which was subsequently abolished in 2015.

[ref-TOI]

Who is eligible for OCI card?

• A foreign national who was or is-
  • A citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950
  • Eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950
  • Belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947
  • A child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen
  • A minor child of such persons mentioned above
  • A minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India
  • Spouse of foreign origin of Indian citizen or OCI Cardholder & whose marriage has been registered for <2 years immediately before the application

Who are not eligible for OCI card?

• Person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other countries.

When can government cancel the OCI?

• The central government can cancel the OCI registration if-
  • The OCI card holder has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India
  • In the interest of the sovereignty, integrity & security of India
  • Friendly relations of India with foreign states
  • In the interests of the general public
  • During war in which India may be engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy
  • Within 5 years after registration, the card holder has been sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 2 years
  • The marriage of an OCI has been dissolved or it has been solemnised with other person.

Other key facts:

• Total 4.06 million OCI registration cards were issued till 31 January, 2022.

Ref: Source