Indian Citizen

Mozambique boat accident: 3 Indians dead, 5 missing; rescue ops underway

The boat, which was carrying a total of 14 Indian nationals, overturned in the waters off Beira under yet-to-be-determined circumstances

Pre-test exercise for 1st phase of Census 2027 to be held from Nov 10-30

The pre-test exercise for the first phase of Population Census 2027, which will include Houselisting and Housing census, shall be conducted in select sample areas in all the states and Union territories from November 10-30, 2025, a top official said on Friday. In a gazette notification, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, said an option for self-enumeration will also be available from November 1-7. The pre-test exercise tests the efficacy of the Census to be conducted between April 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027, in two phases -- Houselisting and Housing Schedule (HLO), and Population Enumeration. It will be the first digital census, which will also enumerate the caste of the citizens. During the test phase, all aspects of the mammoth exercise, ranging from questions, data collection, training, logistics, mobile application and software, will be evaluated to plug any issues in the process, officials said. In Phase-1, i.e., Houselisting ...

Indian national fighting alongside Russian military surrenders to Ukraine

An Indian national fighting alongside the Russian military surrendered to Ukrainian forces, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday. The 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian military, on its Telegram channel, released a video of the Indian national who identified himself as Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein from Gujarat. There was no word from Indian officials on the matter. Official sources said the Indian embassy in Kyiv was ascertaining the veracity of the report. It has not received any formal communication from Ukrainian authorities on the matter, they said. The Ukrainian military said 22-year-old Hussein came to Russia to study at a university, The Kyiv Independent newspaper reported. In the video, Hussein said he was sentenced to seven years in a Russian prison on drug-related charges and was offered the opportunity to sign a contract with the Russian military to avoid further punishment. "I didn't want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract for the special military oper

Two Indian men jailed in Singapore for robbing and assaulting sex workers

Arokkiyasami Daison and Rajendran Mayilarasan sentenced to over five years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for targeting women in hotel rooms during a holiday in Singapore

Exercise 'strictest vigilance': MEA warns Indians over fake jobs in Iran

India on Friday cautioned its nationals seeking employment in Iran to exercise "strictest vigilance" in view of recent cases of fake job offers. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said there have been a number of recent cases of Indian citizens being lured to travel to Iran on false promises of employment or with assurances that they would be sent further to third countries for jobs. "Upon reaching Iran, these Indian nationals have been kidnapped by criminal gangs and ransoms have been demanded from their families for securing their release," it said. "In this context, all Indian citizens are strongly cautioned to exercise the strictest vigilance regarding such employment promises or offers," the MEA said. "In particular, it may be noted that the government of Iran allows visa-free entry to Indians only for tourism purposes. Any agents promising visa-free entry into Iran for employment or other purposes may well be in connivance with criminal gangs," it added. Indian citizens

US Embassy warns Indians: One wrong move could mean a lifetime ban

The US Embassy in India cautioned citizens against remaining in America beyond their authorised stay, saying violators risk deportation and a lifelong entry ban

BJP claims Foreigners Act 'need of hour', Oppn dubs it 'self-contradictory'

The BJP has maintained that the Centre's recent order to grant residential status to non-Muslim with invalid travel documents from neighbouring countries couldn't have been better timed, even as the opposition perceived it to be a strategy to prevent the party's apple cart from getting upset in poll-bound states of the east. Interpretations of the order across the political spectrum ranged from being the first step towards granting citizenship to persecuted Hindus who crossed over from Bangladesh in recent times to a recipe for a civil war among communities. As per the exemption order, persons belonging to minority communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who sought shelter in India on grounds of religious persecution on or before December 31, 2024 without valid travel documents, would not be prosecuted under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Enforced on September 1, the law mandates creation of a Bureau of

In a first, citizens will be able to self-enumerate during upcoming census

A special dedicated web portal will be launched for self-enumeration during the upcoming Census, which will be available for both phases of the national enumeration exercise, officials said Monday. In the country's first digital census, enumerators will collect the data of citizens using mobile applications on their Android and Apple phones, they said. It will also be the first time in the country that citizens will get a chance to self-enumerate through a dedicated web portal which will be available for both the phases of Census - Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) and Population Enumeration. "Digital Census initiative is a transformational step towards modernising the Census process. For the first time, technology will be used to collect data and send it electronically to the central server. This will result in early availability of Census data," an official said. Very stringent data security measures would be kept in place to ensure data security at the time of collection, ..

Operation Sindhu: 827 Indian nationals brought back from Iran, says MEA

A fresh batch of Indian nationals evacuated from Iran landed safely in Delhi on Saturday under Operation Sindhu, as part of the Government of India's ongoing efforts to bring back its citizens

Israel in constant contact with MEA: Amb. Azar on evacuation of Indians

Amid the escalation of military confrontation between Israel and Iran, Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has said that his country is in "constant contact" with the Ministry of External Affairs on the subject of evacuation of Indian nationals from there. In an interview with PTI Videos at the agency's headquarters here on Friday, Azar also said that "whatever message we get from the Indian government, we take it very seriously" in order to make sure that all Indian citizens are safe. His remarks came in response to a query on the evacuation of Indians residing in Israel amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. "We are in constant contact with the MEA, on all subjects that have to do with evacuation of civilians. We've been cooperating since the beginning of the war, and this cooperation continues. We have open channels, and whatever message we get from the Indian government, we take it very seriously in order to make sure that all Indian citizens are safe," Azar ...

54 Indian citizens sentenced to death by foreign courts: Govt tells RS

As per information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, the number of Indian citizens who have been awarded death sentences by foreign courts stands at 54, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha. The government was asked whether the Centre is taking any measures to save the life of Nimisha Priya who has been sentenced to death by a Yemen court, as also the number of Indian citizens who have been awarded death sentences by the foreign courts. "As per information available with this Ministry, the number of Indian citizens who have been awarded death sentences by foreign courts is 54," the minister said in his response. The ministry was asked whether the government takes any "pro-active measures" to save the lives of such citizens; and if so, the details thereof. "The Government of India accords high priority to the welfare of Indians abroad and ..

Embassy rescues 67 trafficked Indians from cyber-scams centres in Laos

The Embassy expressed gratitude to Lao officials for their cooperation and has urged decisive action against the criminal syndicates operating in GTSEZ

From FY21 to FY23, US sees a dramatic 855% surge in Indian asylum seekers

In 2023, Indians were the fifth-largest group to seek defensive asylum and the seventh-largest in affirmative asylum applications

US sanctions 2 Indians for alleged ties to Houthis transporting Iranian oil

The US has sanctioned 18 companies and individuals, including two Indians, for their alleged ties to a Houthi network transporting Iranian oil, revenue from which enables Houthi attacks on Israel and disrupting shipping in the Red Sea region. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the companies, including the captains of vessels transporting illicit oil, for their ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed Houthi financial official Sa'id al-Jamal and his network, a press release said on Thursday. The 18 companies sanctioned include Marshall Islands-registered Changtai Shipping and Motionavigations Limited and UAE-based Indo Gulf Ship Management. The two Indians sanctioned are linked to the Indo Gulf Ship Management, according to the Treasury Department. The release said that UAE and India-based Indian national Rahul Rattanlal Warikoo acts as the managing director of Indo Gulf Ship Management. He has also served in managemen

No new change in OCI guidelines: Consulate General of India in US

The Consulate General of India in New York has refuted reports about restrictions being placed on Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, asserting that "no new change" has been introduced recently. "We have come across news reports spreading false information that restrictions have been placed on OCI cardholders in the recent past," the consulate said in a post on X. "Friends in the Indian American community are hereby informed that no new change has been introduced in the recent past for OCI card holders," it said, adding that provisions of the notification dated March 4, 2021, about the rights of OCI cardholders "continue to remain in force". It urged diaspora members to check the official website of the OCI services and its web page detailing frequently asked questions about it. An OCI cardholder is granted multiple entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting India, exempted from registration with the Foreign Regional Registration Officer for any length of stay in ..

Australia to offer work visas to Indians from Oct 1 under trade pact

Australia will begin offering up to 1,000 work and holiday visas each year to Indian citizens from October 1, as part of its commitment under the India-Australia interim free trade agreement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who concluded his three-day visit to Australia, said that this move will facilitate mobility and deepen people-to-people connect. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) came into effect from December 2022. "During the visit, happy to learn that Work and Holiday visa, a key commitment under India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement will be operational from 1st October 2024 which will facilitate mobility and deepen people-to-people connect," Goyal said in a post on X on Thursday. Under the ECTA, Indian nationals aged 18-30 years can apply for a one-year visa to work, study, and travel across Australia. Australia would annually grant up to 1,000 multiple entry work and holiday visas for a temporary stay o

Hurry! Update your Aadhar for free: Deadline ends in 2 days; details inside

In order to receive the update for free, Aadhaar cards issued over 10 years ago must be revalidated by Sept 14 with confirmation of address and identity. There will be a cost of Rs 50 after this date

India's first civilian space tourist Thotakura meets Vice-President Dhankar

Gopichand Thotakura made history by becoming the second Indian citizen to travel to space, and first space tourist

50-yr-old Dulon Das becomes first in Assam to get citizenship under CAA

Dulon Das (50) has become the first person in Assam to receive citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), sparking strong reactions from opposition parties and student groups. Originally from Bangladesh's Sylhet, Das entered India in 1988 and settled in Silchar, Cachar district. He did not apply for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) but managed to obtain various government documents, including a voter card, driving licence and PAN and Aadhaar cards, despite his illegal status, one of his kin alleged. "He applied for citizenship through the dedicated online portal on April 1. It was approved yesterday and he received a mail from the Union Home Ministry. Das has now been asked to collect the citizenship certificate physically," he added. During the application process, Das provided a land deed from his father, who had purchased land in Sylhet district in 1986. Das is married to an Indian woman, and they have two children born in Assam. The Citizenship (Amendment)

Over 210,000 Indians renounced citizenship of India in 2023: Govt

More than 2.16 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship in 2023, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to queries on Indian citizens who have renounced their citizenship in the last five years. In his response, he also shared the corresponding data for 2011-2018. In 2023, the number of Indians who renounced their citizenship stood at 2,16,219 (2.16 lakh). The corresponding figure for 2022 was 2,25,620 (2.25 lakh); 1,63,370 (1.63 lakh) in 2021; 85,256 in 2020; and 1,44,017 (1.44 lakh) in 2019, according to the data. The query from AAP member Raghav Chadha was also on whether the government had taken steps to find the reasons for such "high number of renunciation" and "low acceptance of Indian citizenship" and, if so, the details thereof. He also sought to know whether the government had tried to determine the "financial as well as intellectual drainage" and loss to the country