PM offers dual citizenship to NRIs

Mumbai: Dual citizenship would be extended to all overseas Indians who migrated from India after January 26, 1950, prime minister Manmohan Singh announced while inaugurating the third Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas.

"I am happy to announce that we have decided to extend the facility of dual citizenship to all overseas Indians who migrated from India after January 26, 1950 as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship under their local laws," Singh said.

Hoping that a day would come when every Indian living overseas who wished to secure Indian citizenship would actually be able to do so, he said: "I pledge to you that I will work in that direction."

Singh said his government would simplify the citizenship application form for overseas Indians. A new user-friendly form, combining the three forms prescribed earlier, had also been evolved and would be notified soon, he added.

The prime minister said his government would simplify the format of the certificate of registration of overseas citizens of India. Various options, including the possibility of introducing a smart card, were being considered, he added.

About 2,500 delegates, including 1,500 overseas Indians from 60 countries are participating in the three-day meet which would also have a special plenary session on disaster management in view of the tsunami tragedy. The delegates would deliberate over problems faced by Indians in the Gulf.