UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC recalls its earlier order on journalist’s PIO status
Q1. Under the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme, the farthest ancestral generation through which a foreign national of Indian origin can establish eligibility for an OCI card is that of the—
- A. parent
- B. grandparent
- C. great-grandparent
- D. great-great-grandparent
Q2. With reference to the merger of the PIO card scheme into the OCI card scheme, consider the following statements:
1. The Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme was merged into the OCI card scheme by the Government of India in 2015.
2. Registration as an OCI cardholder in lieu of a PIO card is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955.
3. Unlike the erstwhile PIO cardholders, OCI cardholders are entitled to vote in elections to the Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme was merged into the OCI card scheme by the Government of India in 2015.
- Registration as an OCI cardholder in lieu of a PIO card is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- Unlike the erstwhile PIO cardholders, OCI cardholders are entitled to vote 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
Q3. Registration of a person as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder is provided for under which section of the Citizenship Act, 1955?
- A. Section 5
- B. Section 6
- C. Section 7A
- D. Section 8
Q4. Regarding the disabilities and entitlements of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, consider the following statements:
1. An OCI cardholder cannot vote in elections to the Lok Sabha.
2. An OCI cardholder cannot hold the office of the President of India.
3. An OCI cardholder cannot acquire agricultural land in India.
4. An OCI cardholder cannot enter India without obtaining a separate visa for each visit.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- An OCI cardholder cannot vote in elections to the Lok Sabha.
- An OCI cardholder cannot hold the office of the President of India.
- An OCI cardholder cannot acquire agricultural land in India.
- An OCI cardholder cannot enter India without obtaining a separate visa for each visit.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q5. Which one of the following best describes the legal status conferred by an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card?
- A. Full dual citizenship carrying voting rights in both India and the country of nationality
- B. A multiple-entry, lifelong visa granted to a foreign national of Indian origin, without conferring Indian citizenship
- C. Indian citizenship subject only to a bar on holding constitutional posts
- D. Provisional Indian citizenship that converts into full citizenship after five years' residence
Q6. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme was first introduced by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955 in which year?
- A. 2003
- B. 2005
- C. 2015
- D. 2019
Q7. With reference to the Delhi High Court's recall of its earlier order in the case of journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, consider the following statements:
1. The High Court had earlier quashed the Centre's rejection of his plea to convert PIO status to OCI status.
2. The Court recalled that order after it emerged that a 2020 Allahabad High Court anticipatory bail order imposing travel and passport conditions had not been disclosed.
3. The petitioner is a citizen of the United States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The High Court had earlier quashed the Centre's rejection of his plea to convert PIO status to OCI status.
- The Court recalled that order after it emerged that a 2020 Allahabad High Court anticipatory bail order imposing travel and passport conditions had not been disclosed.
- The petitioner is a citizen of the United States.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The order recalling the earlier direction on Siddharth Varadarajan's PIO-to-OCI conversion plea was passed by which court?
- A. Supreme Court of India
- B. Allahabad High Court
- C. Delhi High Court
- D. Bombay High Court