Subject: Polity
Introduced in 2005, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme is a unique status that offers a range of privileges to persons of Indian origin who have acquired citizenship of another country. Although the OCI does not confer full dual citizenship, it provides many rights similar to those enjoyed by Indian citizens, such as the ability to live, work, study, and own property in India.
The OCI status is carefully designed to strengthen the bond between India and its diaspora while upholding the constitutional mandate of single citizenship. By granting OCI, the government acknowledges the enduring cultural, economic, and familial ties that individuals abroad maintain with India, without compromising the integrity of the nation’s citizenship laws.
While OCI holders enjoy extensive benefits, they do not possess political rights such as voting or contesting elections. This measured approach helps to integrate the diaspora into the national fold, promoting mutual growth and cooperation without diluting the principle of exclusive Indian citizenship.