Govt Rolls Out FCRA 2.0, e-OCI Card to Ease Citizen Services: Shah
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today launched the FCRA 2.0 Portal and e-OCI Card in New Delhi, saying both initiatives will increase convenience for citizens and strengthen security.
Shah said the new platforms align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principle of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ laid out in 2014. “When the intention is clear, the policy is transparent, and there is a mindset to embrace technology, then all forms of governance become very easy for honest people,” Shah said. “A strict surveillance system is put in place for wrongdoers, and the country can be made increasingly secure.”
He added that the FCRA 2.0 Portal will specifically resolve difficulties faced by organizations receiving foreign donations.
The e-OCI Card introduces a fully digital system for Overseas Citizens of India. Under the new rules, the requirement to apply for a fresh OCI card after receiving a new passport post age 20 has been eliminated. Cardholders will now only need to update passport details online when a new passport is issued.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the system offers a digital-only experience with no requirement for physical presence. Benefits include mobile access, faster processing, elimination of lost or damaged physical documents, and smoother immigration clearance at airports.
The e-OCI system enables end-to-end online processing, reduces paperwork and administrative costs, and improves data management through centralized tracking. It also integrates with digital immigration systems for real-time verification at airports, which officials said will strengthen identity verification, enhance security, and reduce fraud risk.
The Ministry of Home Affairs called the launch of the FCRA 2.0 Portal and the e-OCI Card “another significant achievement” in using technology for governance and public service delivery, aimed at building a more transparent, secure, and digitally empowered system.
Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and other senior officials attended the launch.
