MHA Notifies Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026

Current Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026 on April 30, effective May 1.

• The rules introduce electronic OCI (e-OCI) cards, replacing the mandatory physical card requirement.
• All OCI-related services—registration, renewal, renunciation, and cancellation—must now be completed online-only.
• Minors are prohibited from holding dual passports, and parents must submit compliance declarations.
• Applicants must provide biometric consent, enabling automatic enrollment in India’s Fast-Track Immigration (FTI) system at 13 airports.
• Authorities can digitally cancel OCI status even if physical cards are not surrendered.
• A new appeal and review mechanism under Rule 42A has been introduced for rejected applications.
• Processing timelines are expected to reduce to 15 working days, improving convenience for diaspora families.

Question:

Q.1 Which one of the following services is NOT required to be done online‑only under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026?
a) OCI registration
b) OCI renewal
c) OCI cancellation
d) OCI applications via paper form at Indian missions

Answer: d) The Rules make OCI registration, renewal, renunciation and cancellation fully online‑only, ending paper‑based submissions. Any option still mentioning paper forms is a distractor.