OCI/PIO

1)what was the exact difference between OCI and PIO.why such a distinction was there?  2)constitution prevents the citizens of neighbouring
countries like bang,pak from getting PIO/OCI.what could be the possible reason? since a larger population of these countries could claim these cards?

Every country in the world will have visitors from other countries.Both their entry and exit, needs to be regulated, as they could be conduits for unwelcome things to happen in the country.Means, if you want to visit, say US, then you need to go to their embassy or consulate here and tell them that you want to go there!

They will take your application, check the genuity and check your genuinity and then will clear your travel.Now, such permission/permits (VISA) are issues for different period of stay.

It may be tourist permits, for 15 days to working permits for 3 years!!And you are also asked to report to the local police periodically (not in all cases).

Now, you can see that, the whole process is a hassle!

Its same in india too!So, some of the NRIs, who are citizens of other countries, but have some connection with India, requested for a easier process.Thats how the OCI came up!

And as it is almost like giving  a restricted citizenship, it also required that the country from where they come has to have the system of dual citizenship!

later PIO came, which  can be applied to countries those who do not have dual ciizenship facility too!needless to say, both are quite close and merged, which India did recently.

what  are the economic impact on India apart from Indian origin people getting employed by foreign companies due to easy entry/visa policy?

the economic impact can be quantified!  It will be asking, which guy rowed well in the winning boat, in the kerala boat race!!

in this age and time, when the services and products are crossing borders, movement of poeple freely inside the country is also imp.!

Is the movement is made easy, more people will come inside the country, and they will consume. Their consumption will increase our GDP.

Merger of OCI and PIO

India does not allow dual citizenship. However with over 25 million of our people in different countries, there was a growing demand for more facilities to the migrants.They wanted easy access, unrestricted movement, study facilities, property rights, voting rights etc.

In a globalized environment and wanting to allow them to reconnect with their motherland, government came up with this scheme of PIO and OCI.

PIO is person of Indian Origin.

OCI is Overseas Citizen of India

@Do they have voting rights?

Yes, except for voting rights, people enjoy all other facilities of a citizen.

@what about refugees who flock to our country may not have both pio/oci..sometimes they might be pio like eelam people but they may not have proper documents to prove.what could be done with them.

PIO- every person who held Indian passport at some time.Parents or grandparents or great grandparents who was born or permanently resident in India.Spouse of a citizen of India or a PIO.Were eligible for getting PIO card, valid for 15 yrs.

@why citizens of particular country are not given oci/pio? since that country does not allow?

No for security and historical reasons.

One had to carry the card along with 15 year visa affixed on passport,Since this was creating avoidable documents, it was decided to do away with the visa reqmt now.Just carrying the OCI card is enough. PIO will be phased out.

@Sir in terms of benefits, is it fair to assume that OCI > PIO?

OCI was considered slightly higher as it allowed studies, property rights more freely.

Now they have been merged and we will no longer issue PIO.

@EC allowed Tibetian refugees gave registered voters id cards for Delhi assembly elections.how could they be given political rights.they may be eligible to become citizens under naturalisation but still they arent citizens to hold voting rights..

shouldn't be this the other way round sir? lik citizenship ensuring political rights?

One gets citizenship after continuous stay in India for a certain period of time if he or she seeks it.We should understand that most of the migration from India was economic and not political.

So there was a dichotomy brought in having the two cards.While mostly the benefits were the same the fee structure was different creating some confusion.It was a longstanding recommendation to merge them.Now done, So lavanya the EC would have considered these conditions before issuing the election ID.

@If a person born and brought up in gulf till 20 yrs but his/her has parents indian citizenship, when they are returning to india by giving cancellation, is that child treated as NRI?

NRI is non resident Indian. If one had a foreign passport even when parents held Indian citizenship, then he/she would have to seek OCI only.Can't be treated as NRI.

@Do they have any restrictions on earning properties.?

No.

@i think agriculture lands cant owned..right sir?

they can own, subjected to the state laws.

state laws want them to be agriculturist in India!!

Or low income levels! So, very few pass thru that filter!!

Unless they get exemption from the govt, for certain purposes.

lavanya, land is NOT a union subject. So, the PCI or PIO doenst make any mention in that.

State laws require them to be agriculturists in india! And 99.9% of the card holders wont cross this eligibility! So, wiki must have interpreted in that manner!

@ when OCI card holders work in India will their remittance not cost our forex reserves?

We get the largest individual remittances of nearly 90 billion dollars!

So few thousands out of here should not matter.

@Sir in terms of benefits, you just mentioned that OCI > PIO, then if a PIO who uptil recently held citizenship of India- he should get more access to benefits, and that too easily, I suppose

why is that a recent citizenship holder is entitled to lesser benefits than an OCI?

PIO 's don't have citizenship here..since the countries they belong to does not allow dual citizenship.

Yes. But the design for these cards were more or less similar.

@Balu sir mentioned that you are entitled to be a PIO holder if until recently you held Indian Citizenship,as opposed to OCI holder, which has more.

See it is an issue of reconnecting with motherland. No combined so no issues.

You can say that the demand for simplification of procedures by the community was acceded to by the government in merging them.

OCI was seen as a substitute for citizenship in those days, and it was applied to ONLY those countries those allowed dual citizenship.Whereas PIO was made to everybody, and also included the spouse, which was not available in OCI.

PIO came in 1999.

OCI in 2005.

@A spouse of a PIO automatically got a PIO status too?

Nothing is automatic! But, spouse is eligible for PIO.

@the reason for this inclusion sir?

See demand from foreigners of Indian origin considering their ancestry for a reconnect with India was acceded to by the government in a phased manner.

So, don't write that there were discrepancies! Just that both schemes evolved complimenting each other, and they were merged.

@NRI's they send money back home..are there any economic benefits from the OCI's sir?

Investments technology start ups,Involvement in development of economy,educational services and there are so many.

@doubt on refugees..if they can't enjoy any rights here..what if there is a violence against them..they can't go to courts? so who takes the call..human rights commission or something else?

anybody within the territory of india is protected by the FR!

yes, not for all, obviously! They can't be equal to citizens!!

But, Art 14, 20 and 21 are enough!!

Violence- that should be covered under Equality before law- which is guaranteed to Foreigners and Citizens alike.