RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3857
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2017
BRINGING BACK NRIs FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES
3857. SHRI A. VIJAYAKUMAR:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Non Resident Indians (NRIs) who are interested to settle in India;
(b) whether Government has any proposal to revive the policy to bring back Indian population settled in foreign countries; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) As per data obtained by Ministry in December 2016, there are an estimated 1.16 crore non-resident Indians (NRIs) settled globally. Since NRIs are citizens of India, many of them maintain their domicile in India and return to settle down in India after completion of education, employment or stay with their relatives abroad. The Ministry does not have data about number of NRIs who are interested in settling in India.
(b) & (c) The Government does not have any specific policy to bring back Indian population settled in foreign countries.
However, the Ministry and Indian Missions/Consulates abroad are engaging with the overseas Indian community regularly through various schemes, initiatives, and dialogue mechanisms and inviting them to contribute to the ongoing development and growth process in India.
Indian nationals who are in distress abroad are provided consular assistance by Indian Missions and Consulates, to enable their repatriation to India.
To enable Persons of Indian-origin (PIOs) to reconnect with India, PIOs who hold Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card have been provided, inter alia, following facilities under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955:
- Multiple entry life-long visa
- Exemption from registration in FRRO irrespective of duration of stay
- Parity with NRIs in economic, financial and educational fields in India except acquisition of agricultural or plantation property
- Parity with NRIs
• For practice as medical professionals, advocates, architects and CAs
• Appear in All India Pre-Medical Test and other entrance tests for technical courses in India
- Permission to file an affidavit to declare their address in India.
PIOs who are OCI Cardholders for 5 years and ordinarily resident in India for 12 months before making an application for registration, are eligible for grant of Indian citizenship.
Under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, PIOs and their spouse; and persons of full age whose parents are registered Indian citizens, who are resident of India for last seven years, are eligible to apply for citizenship of India subject to fulfillment of conditions mentioned therein.
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