Background

 The government of India introduced the Aadhar in 2009, as a unique identifier for each Indian. This unique identifier is connected to a person’s biometric features like fingerprint and iris scan, making it possible to establish the identity of an individual to a high degree of accuracy.

Aadhar is increasingly used in financial and property transactions and helps to reduce and subsequently eliminate all fraudulent transactions, misrepresentations, and wrongful registration and transfer of property when correctly used.

 Situation 

The Indian diaspora is the largest in the world, estimated at over 18 million. They are usually among the most successful immigrants in their host countries. They also maintain close relationships with their mother country, which include cultural, family ties, and financial ventures. A large percentage own ancestral and other properties and regularly visit India. They have also invested in new developments and properties with the intention of returning, retiring, or spending a significant time during their retirement in India. The second generation of these immigrants also has good connections with India because of the annual visits and the relationships that they have formed with their cousins and other relatives. Most of the Indian diaspora currently hold the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) visa.

Aadhar is currently available only to Indian residents or OCI Cardholders with domicile requirements of 180 days of continuous stay (not feasible for 99% OCI holders).  This population cannot avail the same protections to preserve the rights of their existing properties or security to continue investing in India. This makes the transfer of properties to their issues more involved and risky. They are at an increased risk of fraudulent transactions because they are physically removed for a good part of the year.

Analysis

 Extending the Aadhar to the overseas citizens of India will have significant benefits for both India and the beneficiaries:

1. Continue and extend the “Motherland” relationship of the first generation with the next generations.
2. Preserve and secure ownership rights of this community, preserve and strengthen existing cultural and social connections.
3. Encourage continued investment to take the development of India to new heights.

Our Request to Government of India.

Make the Aadhar available to all Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) visa holders with OCI card as the identity proof without domicile requirements. This will help to reduce fraudulent and benami asset transfers.