Date:10/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061053710500.htm

National

Directive to issue driving licences to OCIs

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Gupta on Monday issued directions that the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) be issued driving licences on demand. He further directed that their children be also admitted to educational institutions in India on demand.

Mr. Gupta said OCIs were granted parity with Non-Resident Indians by the Central Government and they were eligible to apply for Indian driving licences and their children could seek admission in any educational institution in India.

The OCI scheme was introduced in January 2006 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh handed over the first two OCI cards at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas celebrations in Hyderabad.

Persons of Indian origin of all countries except Pakistan and Bangladesh who were citizens of India or were eligible to become citizens of India on January 26,1950, under the Citizenship Act, 1955, were eligible to become OCI.