CHENNAI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced here on Thursday that Overseas Indian Citizenship (OIC) card-holders can practise their professions in India.

This comes as a blessing for many people of Indian origin, who after returning to India find that they have to go through a laborious process of re-registration and — in some cases — take examinations to gain a certificate to practise in India. “The Overseas Indian Citizenship Scheme, which we had announced in 2006, has elicited an overwhelming response. I am, therefore, happy to announce that henceforth OIC card-holders who are qualified professionals — doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, architects and chartered accountants — will have the benefit of practising their professions here in our country. Further details to operationalise this benefit are being worked out,” he said at the inaugural of the seventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here.

The Hindu, Friday, Jan 09 2009