New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Saturday, September 28, that no changes had been made to the rules governing Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders, debunking recent rumours about new restrictions.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Consulate General of India in New York addressed reports claiming that OCI cardholders were being reclassified as foreigners and faced new restrictions. These claims had caused concern among OCI cardholders, with many expressing frustration over alleged rule changes requiring permits to visit protected areas like Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.
However, the ministry emphasized that the current regulations have been in effect since March 2021. In that month, the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced amendments requiring OCI cardholders, like foreign nationals, to obtain permission before visiting protected or restricted areas within India.
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An official statement on X reassured the Indian diaspora: “No new change has been introduced in the recent past for OCI cardholders. Provisions of the Gazette Notification from March 4, 2021, regarding the rights of OCI cardholders continue to remain in force.”
The Ministry urged members of the Indian American community to refer to official websites, including the Consulate’s page and OCI services portal, for accurate and detailed information.
