Children should not be treated differently because of how they were born or how they became part of a family. India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) rules exclude or create barriers for:

• Legally adopted children outside of India
• Children born out of wedlock
• Children of same-sex couples, and
• Children born through Surrogacy outside of India

even when one of their legal parent is an OCI cardholder. This is unfair!

Families built through adoption or outside traditional marriage are just as real, just as loving, and just as deserving of recognition. Yet current rules deny these children the same rights as biological children born within marriage.

Why This Matters

• Families face repeated bureaucratic hurdles for long-term stays in India and are being separated due to visa restrictions. This undermines the very purpose of OCI—to facilitate diaspora connection with India.
• Children must rely on short-term visas and face uncertainty, repeated paperwork, and rejections. This results in emotional and financial strain on families.
• Families cannot respond quickly to emergencies involving relatives, health, or safety.
• In a world marked by geopolitical instability, conflicts and sudden travel, lack of OCI status limits immediate relocation to India. This is not just inconvenient—it is harmful and unjust.
• Children lose access to education and long-term opportunities in India available to NRIs. 
• Social alienation from Indian heritage.

Violation of Equality Principles

Under international principles like the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, adopted children must be treated the same as biological children. As a signatory to the Hague Convention India should reflect on these values.

No child of a parent of Indian origin should be discriminated! A child does not choose adoption. A child does not choose the circumstances of their birth. But policy can choose fairness.

Our Simple Demand

We call upon the Government of India to

1. amend Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (OCI provisions) to explicitly include legally adopted children (international) and children born out of wedlock as long as one parent is an OCI holder.
2. Recognise legal parenthood (not just biological lineage) as the basis for OCI eligibility as in the case of legally married spouses (at the time of child's birth).
3. Issue clear administrative guidelines to embassies and authorities to ensure uniform interpretation and transparent processing of OCI application for adopted children and children born out of wedlock.

This reform is Urgent.

India is a global leader in Child welfare frameworks and Diaspora engagement. However, the current OCI eligibility criteria do not reflect modern family realities and lags behind international standards on child rights. Recognising adopted children, children born out of wedlock and children of same-sex couples equally would strengthen India’s global human rights standing, promote inclusivity and fairness, and support Indian diaspora families. No child should be denied connection to their family’s heritage due to technicalities of birth or adoption. Equal recognition under OCI is not just a legal reform—it is a moral imperative aligned with India’s constitutional values of equality, dignity, and justice.

Call to Action
We urge citizens, members of the Indian diaspora, policymakers, and human rights advocates to support this petition and stand for equal rights for all children.

Sign This Petition.
Stand for equality.
Stand for families.
Stand for every child’s right to belong!