Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) are two different categories of the Indian diaspora that are recognized by the Indian government.

PIO cards were introduced in 1999 and were applicable to individuals who held an Indian passport at any time or their ancestors held an Indian passport. The PIO card provided benefits such as visa-free travel to India and exemption from reporting to police authorities for stays of up to 180 days.

OCI, on the other hand, was introduced in 2005 to replace the PIO card and has more benefits than the PIO card. The OCI card provides benefits such as lifetime visa-free travel to India, the right to work and study in India, and the right to participate in business and cultural activities in India.

In 2015, the Indian government announced that PIO cardholders would be eligible to apply for OCI card and that the PIO card scheme would be discontinued. As a result, most PIO cardholders now hold an OCI card.

It’s important to note that while both OCI and PIO cardholders are considered non-resident Indians (NRIs), OCI cardholders have more rights and privileges than PIO cardholders. However, they are not considered Indian citizens and do not have all rights and privileges as Indian citizens, such as the right to vote in Indian elections and the right to hold public office.