OCI cardholders require special permit if they want to undertake 'Tabligh', media activities: Centre

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders will have to take special permission from the Centre if they want to be involved in any missionary, research, 'Tabligh' or journalistic activities in the country.

A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official said these were part of the 'brochure' published in 2019 and were recently consolidated and notified.

The OCI card provides multiple lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose except research, missionary, mountaineering, journalism and Tabligh activities. For these activities, OCI cardholders need to take prior permission.

For research, missionary, mountaineering and Tabligh activities, an OCI cardholder will have to submit an application with the Indian embassy or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) concerned. For undertaking journalistic activities, permission should be sought from the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

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Tablighi Jamaat was in the eye of controversy last March when over 2,000 of its followers were found to be residing at its headquarters in the capital despite orders issued against large gatherings of people due to spreading Covid-19. Tablighi Jamaat workers, including foreigners, indulge in preaching tours during which a volunteer travels for 120 days and stay in local mosques where they talk about their activities besides holding special prayers.

OCI cardholders will also have to take a special permit to undertake an internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign government organisations in India or to take up employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India or to visit any place which falls within the protected or restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the central government or competent authority.

Registered OCI cardholders will be treated at par with NRIs in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children and at par with Indian nationals on tariffs in airfares in domestic sectors in India.

The notification also said that OCI cardholders have parity with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in airfares in domestic sectors in India, entry fees to be charged for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, national monuments, historical sites and museums in India.

They have also parity in the purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farmhouse or plantation property and pursuing professions like doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists in India as per the provisions contained in the applicable relevant statutes or laws.