Number of OCI cards issued has doubled since last 5 years

As many as 3.2 lakh overseas citizens of India (OCI) cards were issued per annum between 2015 and 2021 as compared to an average 1.7 lakh cards issued per year between 2005 and 2014. This, a home ministry official said, pointed to the growing popularity of the OCI card scheme with the Indian diaspora “in view of the OCI application process being made online and various relaxations offered over the years to extend the coverage and benefits of the scheme”. As many as 3.2 lakh overseas citizens of India (OCI) cards were issued per annum between 2015 and 2021 as compared to an average 1.7 lakh cards issued per year between 2005 and 2014. This, a home ministry official said, pointed to the growing popularity of the OCI card scheme with the Indian diaspora “in view of the OCI application process being made online and various relaxations offered over the years to extend the coverage and benefits of the scheme”.