Context: Recently, the Government of India has announced that the People of Indian origin and Indian diaspora having overseas citizens of India (OCI) card are now not required to carry their old, expired passports for travel to India.
Key Points

• The requirement of carrying old and new passports, along with the OCI card, has been done away with which addressed one of the major concerns of overseas Indians.
• An OCI cardholder travelling on the strength of an existing OCI card bearing old passport number is not required to carry the old passport.
• The embassy has stated that carrying the new (current) passport is mandatory for OCI Cardholders.

OCI SCHEME

• 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

• Whose marriage is registered
• 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.

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.