New Delhi: In a significant step towards improving services for the global Indian diaspora, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today launched the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi. The launch event was attended by Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Speaking at the event, Amit Shah emphasized the Modi government’s commitment to providing world-class immigration facilities for Overseas Citizens of India. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we are ensuring that persons of Indian origin living abroad do not face any inconvenience while visiting or staying in India,” he stated.
The new portal—accessible at the existing URL https://ociservices.gov.in—features a modernized user interface, advanced security features, and enhanced functionality designed to simplify and streamline the registration and service process for OCI cardholders. With over 5 million existing OCI cardholders, the portal is expected to significantly improve user experience for both current and new applicants.
The OCI scheme, introduced in 2005 through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, enables registration of Persons of Indian Origin as Overseas Citizens of India. It is applicable to individuals who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date. However, individuals with ancestral ties to Pakistan or Bangladesh are not eligible under the scheme.
The existing OCI services portal, developed in 2013, has been operational in over 180 Indian missions abroad and 12 Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), processing an average of 2,000 applications per day. However, with rapid technological advancements and valuable feedback from users over the years, the MHA recognized the need for a more responsive and efficient system.
The revamped OCI portal addresses these needs by incorporating user-centric design and technology upgrades. It promises smoother navigation, quicker processing times, and improved service accessibility for the growing number of Indian-origin individuals engaging with India’s immigration infrastructure.
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