OCI children eligible for admission in Indian schools

Gurgaon, Jun 9 (UNI) The district administration today stated that persons who are registered as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are entitled to Indian driving licenses and their children are also entitled to seek admission in any educational institution in India.

While making this clear, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Gupta said here that directions had been issued to the concerned officers to issue driving licenses to the OCI. If demanded, their children should be given admissions in educational institutions.

The OCI scheme was introduced in January 2006 when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh handed over the first two OCI cards at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas organised in Hyderabad on January 6, 2006. As per the scheme, persons of Indian origin of all countries, except Pakistan and Bangladesh, who were citizens of India or were eligible to become citizens of India on January 26, 1950 as per the Citizenship Act, 1955, were eligible to become OCI.

A registered OCI was issued a registration booklet and a universal visa on his foreign passport by virtue of which he could travel to India, any time and for any purpose. An updated version of the scheme is available at the website- www.mha.nic.

in/fore_division.htm.

Registered OCIs are granted parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields. They are considered at par with NRIs in areas such as entry fees to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and in domestic air fares within India.

The OCIs were not required to report to police or FRRO for any length of their stay in India. OCIs do not require employment visa to work in private sector.

The OCI scheme does not confer political rights and they are not allowed to hold government jobs. The OCIs are also not allowed acquisition of agriculture and plantation properties. UNI HS VN SLD CS1917