(Image source from: Red Carpet for NRIs: PIO and OCI merged})

The government of India has promulgated an ordinance to launch "Indian Overseas Cardholder" scheme by merging Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official said that President Pranab Mukharjee had signed the Citizenship Ordinance to provide benefits like life-long visa and exemption from appearing before the local police station for PIOs even after staying in India for more than 180 days.

The step before the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2015 between January 7th and 9th is energizing factor for active participation of NRIs in the celebrations. This 13th edition of PBD is expecting active interest from the NRIs in India’s development. With this ordinance PIOs are exempted from appearing a local police station even after the stay of over 180 days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promised at Madison Square Garden in New York last year, to extend lifelong entry to the NRIs holding PIO card. He also expressed the confidence in NRIs role to empower India.

According to MHA, now PIO and OCI schemes will be merged and the combined scheme will be called as “Indian Overseas Cardholder”. Subsequently, the Home Ministry had invited suggestions from the public to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955.

PIOs were having limited time period visa to stay in India and a condition of appearing before local police station, whereas OCI card holders were exempted from all these. OCI card holders reportedly enjoyed very friendly system in India. New user (NRI) friendly scheme is launched to impress the NRIs and Indian-origin fellows to invest in India and to stay in India.

AW: Kannamsai