(Image source from: Parliament Passes Bill to Merge PIO and OCI})

The Parliament of India on Wednesday passed a bill to merge the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) criteria. The amendment to the Citizenship Act, brought as an ordinance in January, the same becomes a law after both the houses passes and President approves.

On Monday the Lok Sabha passed the bill and on Wednesday Rajya Sabha passed the same by a voice vote. According to Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, the ordinance was necessitated to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's committment in the US and Australia to merge PIO and OCI cards before January 9, the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa.

Merging of the PIO and OCI will benefit the persons of Indian Origin for coming and staying in India for longer period and it will also facilitate the PIOs to pursue their education, business and unrestricted stay.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2015 was one of the six bills on which ordinances had been promulgated by the ruling NDA government.

-Kannamsai