Giving its nod to dual citizenship, the Cabinet today approved amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, enabling Persons of Indian Origin who migrated to other countries after January 26, 1950, to acquire overseas citizenship of India.The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also approved changes in the Allocation of Business Rules to allow Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to issue smart cards to registered Overseas Citizens of India.However, the amendment would not be applicable to Persons of Indian Origin, their children and grandchildren, who migrated to Pakistan and Bangladesh after January 26, 1950, said minister for Information and Broadcasting Jaipal Reddy.It will help only those who are eligible to become citizens on this date or belonged to the territories which became part of India after August 15, 1947, to acquire overseas citizenship, ‘‘as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other.’’The Cabinet also approved amendments in the tax treaty with Portugal, and signing of such agreements with Serbia and Montenegro. The Cabinet also allowed for carrying out amendments in the convention between India and Portugal to avoid double taxation and prevent evasion of income tax.
