(Image source from: News18.com)

The Home Ministry of India on Tuesday said the foreign-origin spouse of an Indian national or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder will now be entitled to obtaining the privileged OCI card, which grants multiple entries, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting the country.

The ministry has as well clarified the procedure of renunciation of Indian citizenship, providing relief to Indians who have applied for foreign passports.

An individual, who is a foreign-origin spouse of a citizen of India or of an OCI cardholder, and who carry through the laid down conditions shall be entitled to apply for registration as OCI cardholder, said the ministry, in a notification. Thus far, they were not allowed to apply for this facility.

A registered OCI is given multiple entries, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting India. He or she is immunized from registration with Foreign Regional Registration Officer or Foreign Registration Officer for any length of stay in India, an official said

The person is entitled to general parity with Non-Resident Indians in regard of all facilities available to them in economic, financial and educational fields except in things relating to the acquisition of plantation or agricultural properties.

The OCI card scheme was launched in 2006 in Hyderabad during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention. The strategy provides for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were Indian nationals on January 26, 1950, or thereafter or were entitled to turn citizens of India on January 26, 1950, except who is or had been a citizen of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The home ministry has also revised the Citizenship Rules, 2009, concerning the declaration of renunciation of citizenship.

A declaration of renunciation of citizenship of India shall be made by a citizen of India in the prescribed form and on receipt of the declaration of renunciation of citizenship of India, the authority concerned will process it, the notification said.

On being satisfied with the correctness of the particulars of the declaration made under the relevant rule, the declaration will be registered by the authority concerned and a certificate of renunciation of Indian citizenship will be issued to the declarant, it said.

-Sowmya Sangam