OCI Card: What It Is & How Many Were Cancelled in 2024

Overseas Citizens of India are referred to as OCI. The Indian government offers this service to its people who have relocated overseas and obtained citizenship in that country.

Indian Overseas Citizen: Dr. Nitasha Kaul, a professor and scholar at Westminster University in London, recently reported that the Indian government revoked her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s detractors include Dr. Nitasha. Since OCI was canceled, she has made grave accusations against the Indian government. According to a post she made, restricting foreign professors’ access to India and their families is a breach of the country’s free expression.

Many people are curious about the cancellation of Dr. Nitasha Kaul’s OCI. Let’s explain what OCI is in this context. Who receives it? What distinguishes it from dual citizenship, and how many OCIs were revoked in 2024?

OCI: What is it?

Overseas Citizens of India are referred to as OCI. The Indian government offers this service to Indians who have relocated overseas and obtained citizenship there. The main justification for offering this service is that dual citizenship is not permitted in India. In this case, the government issues an OCI card to Indians who have obtained foreign citizenship, which entitles them to a variety of benefits.

These amenities are accessible.

• Holders of OCI cards are granted a visa to enter India, which is always valid. Holders of OCI cards are permitted to go to India as often as they like.
• One can also conduct a study or journalism in the nation with the government’s approval.
• Unlike for foreigners, there is no exorbitant price to view historical sites.

These rights are not accessible.

• A holder of an OCI card is not eligible to vote or run for office in India.
• cannot work for the government.
• An OCI cardholder is not eligible to be elected to a constitutional position.
• You cannot construct real estate in sensitive locations or purchase land for farming.

In 2024, how many OCIs were canceled?

Numerous OCIs were canceled by the Indian government in 2024, according to media reports. According to the statistics, 57 OCIs were canceled in the previous year. This represents over half of all OCI cancellations over the previous 11 years. There were 122 OCI registrations canceled under Section 7D between 2014 and 2023, according to statistics made public by the federal government. However, in 2024, a maximum of 57 registrations were canceled. 15 OCI registrations have been canceled as of May 19, 2025.

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