Q1. Which of the following correctly explains why OCI is not considered dual citizenship under Indian law, despite offering long-term residency and other privileges?
- OCI cardholders do not need an Indian visa but are required to take an Indian passport
- The Indian Constitution under Article 9 prohibits holding Indian citizenship concurrently with citizenship of another country
- OCI cardholders are required to pay taxes in India like regular citizens
- OCI cardholders are allowed to vote only in municipal elections, not national elections
Correct Option: 2. The Indian Constitution under Article 9 prohibits holding Indian citizenship concurrently with citizenship of another country.
Explanation: The Indian Constitution does not permit dual citizenship. Article 9 specifically bars individuals who voluntarily acquire the citizenship of another country from retaining Indian citizenship. OCI status is only a quasi-citizenship, offering limited rights without granting full political or civic status.
Q2. Which of the following scenarios will make a person ineligible for registration as an OCI cardholder under the 2015 Amendment?
- A US citizen whose grandmother was born in British India and was a citizen of India in 1950
- A Canadian citizen born in India in 1946 who migrated after 1962
- A UK citizen whose grandfather migrated from Dhaka (present-day Bangladesh) to India in 1947
- An Australian citizen whose father was an Indian citizen but whose mother is from Pakistan
Correct Option: 4. An Australian citizen whose father was an Indian citizen but whose mother is from Pakistan.
Explanation: According to the 2015 Amendment, any person whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were or had been citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh is ineligible for OCI status, regardless of their lineage on the other side.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the change brought about by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015 in terms of cardholder classification?
- It allowed OCI cardholders to become permanent citizens after 10 years of residency
- It replaced the term “Overseas Citizen of India” with “Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder”
- It merged the PIO and OCI card schemes but removed eligibility for foreign spouses
- It introduced voting rights for OCI cardholders in local body elections
Correct Option: 2. It replaced the term “Overseas Citizen of India” with “Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder”.
Explanation: The 2015 Amendment formally replaced the earlier term “Overseas Citizen of India” with “Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder” to emphasize that it is not citizenship in the constitutional or political sense. It also merged the PIO and OCI card schemes.
Q4. In which of the following situations can the Central Government exercise its discretionary power to register an individual as an OCI cardholder, even if they do not fully meet the listed criteria?
- When the individual is married to an Indian citizen for less than two years but applies through diplomatic channels
- When the individual has a high net worth and wishes to invest in India
- When the individual is a renowned artist of Indian origin from a restricted country
- When special circumstances exist, and the reason is recorded in writing
Correct Option: 4. When special circumstances exist, and the reason is recorded in writing.
Explanation: Section I(3) of the amended Citizenship Act empowers the Central Government to grant OCI status in “special circumstances”, even if the applicant doesn’t meet standard eligibility—provided the reasons are documented in writing. This is a discretionary provision.
Q5. Under which of the following conditions can the OCI cardholder’s status be legally revoked even if the registration was validly obtained?
- The cardholder fails to visit India for more than 10 years
- The cardholder has violated Indian traffic laws
- The cardholder has expressed public disapproval of Indian foreign policy
- The cardholder has been convicted of a criminal offense with a prison sentence of two years within five years of registration
Correct Option: 4. The cardholder has been convicted of a criminal offense with a prison sentence of two years within five years of registration.
Explanation: The OCI status can be revoked under several conditions, including a conviction of at least 2 years within 5 years of registration. Other grounds include national security threats, fraud, or disaffection towards the Constitution. Mere political dissent or minor legal violations do not qualify for revocation.