NEW DELHI: Implementing Narendra Modi's September 2014 assurance to the Indian diaspora that the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) schemes would be merged, the Union home ministry on Friday notified that all existing PIO card holders shall be deemed to be OCI card holders, and that there would be only one OCI card with enhanced benefits.
"The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card notification has been withdrawn with immediate effect and, further, it has been notified that all existing PIO card-holders will be deemed to be OCI card-holders. Now only one OCI card with enhanced benefits is in existence," said a home ministry release.
The PIO-OCI merger comes close on the heels of promulgation of an ordinance on January 6 amending the Citizenship Act, 1955. The ordinance incorporated the eligibility and additional benefits of PIO card in OCI card and provided certain other relaxations to OCI card-holders. The relaxations include allowing breaks not exceeding 30 days in the one-year continuous stay required before applying for Indian citizenship and registration as an OCI by a minor born to Indian parents or by the spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI after two years of marriage.
Modi had, while addressing the Indian diaspora at New York's Madison Square Garden during an official visit to the US last September, announced that PIO and OCI schemes would be merged to maximize their benefits. He recently reiterated this assurance during a visit to Australia.
"The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card notification has been withdrawn with immediate effect and, further, it has been notified that all existing PIO card-holders will be deemed to be OCI card-holders. Now only one OCI card with enhanced benefits is in existence," said a home ministry release.
The PIO-OCI merger comes close on the heels of promulgation of an ordinance on January 6 amending the Citizenship Act, 1955. The ordinance incorporated the eligibility and additional benefits of PIO card in OCI card and provided certain other relaxations to OCI card-holders. The relaxations include allowing breaks not exceeding 30 days in the one-year continuous stay required before applying for Indian citizenship and registration as an OCI by a minor born to Indian parents or by the spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI after two years of marriage.
Modi had, while addressing the Indian diaspora at New York's Madison Square Garden during an official visit to the US last September, announced that PIO and OCI schemes would be merged to maximize their benefits. He recently reiterated this assurance during a visit to Australia.
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