UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC quashes Centre’s take on OCI status of journalist

Q1. In the context of the recent Delhi High Court ruling on a journalist's citizenship status, what does the term 'Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder' precisely denote?

  • A. A foreign national of Indian origin granted lifelong multiple-entry visa and certain parities with NRIs, but not Indian citizenship
  • B. An Indian citizen residing abroad who retains full voting rights in Indian elections
  • C. A dual citizen holding both Indian and a foreign passport simultaneously under a bilateral treaty
  • D. A foreign national naturalised as an Indian citizen after fulfilling a 12-year residence requirement

Q2. Which authority is the implementing/nodal body for processing applications for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder in India?

  • A. Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Consular, Passport and Visa Division, Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Bureau of Immigration under the Intelligence Bureau
  • D. Indian Missions abroad under the erstwhile Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

Q3. With reference to the differences between the erstwhile Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card scheme and the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The PIO Card scheme was withdrawn in January 2015 and all existing PIO cardholders were deemed to be OCI cardholders. 2. Unlike the PIO card, which was a 15-year multiple-entry visa, the OCI cardholder enjoys lifelong visa with multiple entries to India. 3. Unlike PIO cardholders, OCI cardholders are granted voting rights in elections to the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The PIO Card scheme was withdrawn in January 2015 and all existing PIO cardholders were deemed to be OCI cardholders.
  2. Unlike the PIO card, which was a 15-year multiple-entry visa, the OCI cardholder enjoys lifelong visa with multiple entries to India.
  3. Unlike PIO cardholders, OCI cardholders are granted voting rights in elections to the Lok Sabha.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under which specific provision of the Citizenship Act, 1955 is a person registered as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder, as relied upon by the Delhi High Court in the recent journalist OCI case?

  • A. Section 7A
  • B. Section 6A
  • C. Section 5
  • D. Section 9

Q5. Which one of the following is the principal/parent statute that exclusively governs the acquisition, termination and OCI cardholder status of citizenship in India, as invoked in the recent Delhi High Court OCI proceedings?

  • A. The Citizenship Act, 1955
  • B. The Foreigners Act, 1946
  • C. The Passports Act, 1967
  • D. The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939