Government of India’s Initiatives for Overseas Indians
The Government of India is proud of the contributions made by overseas Indians to the development of India. With a view to strengthen their linkages with India both at personal and professional levels, the Government of India has taken various initiatives that include:


Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council Of Overseas Indians
The Government of India has constituted the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin to draw upon the experience and knowledge of eminent people of Indian origin in diverse fields from across the world.
 
The meeting of PM’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians was held on 7th January 2011 at New Delhi. Fourteen eminent Overseas Indians, who are the member of the Council attended the meeting and made a wide range of suggestions in the area of education, health and development issues underlining the role of Overseas Indians.


The Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI) Scheme:
 The Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI) Scheme was formerly launched in January 2006 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955 to facilitate lifelong visa free travel to India and certain economic, educational and cultural benefits to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). As of 30th June 2011, a total number of 8,61,726 persons have availed of these facility.


Overseas Workers Resource Centre
 To educate the intending emigrants about the risks involved in irregular migration and the precautions to be taken while seeking overseas employment and to provide need based information to overseas emigrants an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) – a toll free 24x7 helpline has been set up. The helpline provides information within India at 100 11 1900. The helpline can also be reached from anywhere in the world at 91-11-40503090.


Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre
The OIFC, an institution established by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has compiled ‘Homeward Bound – a regulatory & investment handbook for Overseas Indians’, which was released by the Prime Minister of India during the 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held from 7th to 9th January, 2011 in New Delhi. This document would further facilitate Overseas Indian’s economic engagements with India. The Centre, in its endeavour to strengthen the Diaspora’s economic inter linkages with India, continues to seek to encourage the Overseas Indians to make use of its platform to connect with India.


Indian Development Foundation Of Overseas Indians
Indian Development Foundation of Overseas Indians is a not-for-profit trust registered to provide a credible window for Overseas Indian Philanthropy in India’s social development. The foundation is managed by an eminent Board of Trustees. The mandate of the foundation is to lead Overseas Indians philanthropic capital into Indian’s social sector by forging partnerships between donors and credible non-Government and non-profit voluntary organisations working in the social sector in India.


Global Indian Network Of Knowledge
The enlargement of the Global Indian Network of Knowledge is called Global-INK. This electronic platform will enable us to draw upon the reservoir of knowledge, expertise and skills that the Overseas Indian community possesses to catalyze the social development effort in India.


TRACING ROOTS
Indian desirous of knowing their roots in India can take assistance of Govt. of India programme ‘Tracing the Roots.’ Further details are available on MOIA’s website:
Guidelines For " Tracing The Roots" Programme moia.gov.in/services.aspx


Foreign Marriage Act

• Foreign Marriage Act