Dual citizenship for overseas Indians

NEW DELHI: After years of deliberation, the Indian government on Thursday approved dual citizenship for overseas Indians, meeting a long-standing demand of the estimated 20 million strong Indian diaspora.

The facility will be available on a reciprocal basis to Indian origin citizens of those countries which already offer dual citizenship in some form or the other.

Earlier the facility was only extended to 16 countries.

The government will also issue smart cards to non-resident Indians that will act as an all-purpose document that will facilitate their identification and travel to and from India.

"The government has decided to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 and (also the) allocation of Business Rules to let the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs issue notifications under Section 7B(1) of the Act and provide smart cards," said Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

He said the government was keeping its promise made during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual gathering of non-resident Indians.

Reddy was speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said the amendment would benefit all people of Indian origin and their children and grandchildren "who migrated from India to countries other than Pakistan and Bangladesh after Jan 26, 1950".

All those who were eligible to become Indian citizens Jan 26, 1950 or belonged to territories that became part of India after Aug 15, 1947 would be eligible for "Overseas Citizenship of India as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other", Reddy said.