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CHALO INDIA CAMPAIGN

9th November, 2024

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Picture Courtesy: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/free-visa-for-friends-of-diaspora-at-chalo-india-campaign-at-wtm-london-9655312/ 

Context:

The Ministry of Tourism to launch the "Chalo India Campaign at the World Travel Mart in London, UK.

About the "Chalo India Campaign"

Objectives
  • To attract foreign tourists, mainly friends of OCI cards, to visit India.
  • To promote "brand India" as a major tourism destination.

Free e-visas
  • Government will issue one lakh free e-visas as part of the campaign.

Eligibility for free e-visas
  • Foreigners selected by OCI cardholders are eligible for free e-visas.
  • Each OCI cardholder can nominate up to 5 people.

Registration Process
  • OCI cardholders will register on a specific portal, and provide information about their nominated people.
  • They will receive a unique code after successful verification. 
  • The nominated friends can then use the unique code to get a free e-visa.

Why was the campaign launched at the UK?
  • According to Tourism Ministry data, 9.5 million foreign tourists visited India in 2023, with the UK accounting for 0.92 million visits, making it India's third largest source market for foreign tourists.

About Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

  • They are a foreign individual who possesses an OCI card, which offers them various benefits while visiting India, such as a lifetime visa and freedom from police registration.
  • The OCI card was launched in 2005 to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were Indian citizens or eligible for Indian citizenship on January 26, 1950.
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2003 granted OCI status to PIOs from 16 particular countries, excluding Pakistan and Bangladesh.
  • The Indian government merged the PIO and OCI systems in 2015 to simplify the application process, creating the term "Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder."
  • The government can cancel an OCI registration if;
      • It was obtained illegally
      • If the individual shows disaffection with the Constitution
      • If communicates with enemies during wartime
      • If person is imprisoned for two or more years within five years of registration

Must Read Articles: 

OVERSEAS CITIZENS OF INDIA (OCI)

OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA

Source: 

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements in the context of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI):

1. Persons registered as OCI have not been given any voting rights.

2.  They are exempt from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct:

Persons registered as OCI have no voting rights and cannot vote in elections to the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council, nor can they hold Constitutional positions such as President, Vice President, Supreme Court/High Court Judge, and so on.

Statement 2 is correct:

Registered OCIs receive benefits such as multiple entrance, multi-purpose, and lifelong visas to visit India. They are also excused from reporting to police for any duration of stay in India.

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