Relief for some categories of OCI cardholders stuck abroad as MHA eases travel curbs

In a big move on Friday, May 22, Ministry of Home Affairs permitted certain categories of Overseas Citizen of India cardholders to come to India amid fourth phase of nationwide lockdown. ban on entry of OCI cardholders into country was imposed on March 13 onwards even before curbs on international air travel were in place. As per latest relaxation, following shall be exempt from international travel restrictions:-

1. Children born to Indian nationals abro and holding OCI cards

2. OCI cardholders who wish to visit India because of a family emergency like a death in family

3. Couples where one spouse is an Indian national and or is an OCI cardholder having a permanent residence in India

4. University students who are OCI cardholders whose parents are Indian nationals staying in India

Thus, aforesaid categories of OCI cardholders stranded abro can come to India via aircraft, ship, train, or any or designated vehicle during lockdown. Currently, re are 1,18,447 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 48,534 patients have been discharged and 3,583 casualties have been reported. 

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More than 20,000 Indians evacuated

dressing a press conference on Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri revealed that more than 20,000 citizens stranded abro h been repatriated under aegis of  Vande Bharat Mission. He stressed that emphasis was on rescuing genuinely stranded Indian nationals in foreign countries. Puri ded that private airlines will be permitted to carry out evacuation of such people which would le to an increase in number of flights. On this occasion, he also explained domestic flights would operate at only 1/3 of capacity with lower and upper limit of ticket fare capped by Centre. domestic flight operations shall commence from May 25. 

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