The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955, in August 2005. The Scheme offers the registration of a person as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were either a citizen of India on or after 26th January 1950 or were qualified to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950.