Non-resident Indians (NRIs)

Non-resident Indians (NRIs)

Part of: Prelims and GS II – Voting

Context: It was recently informed in the Parliament that the Government of India was exploring the possibility of allowing online voting for non-resident Indians (NRIs) as well as considering linking Aadhaar with the electoral rolls to check fraudulent voting.

Current Voting Process for NRIs:

• Voting rights for NRIs were introduced only in 2011, through an amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1950.
• An NRI can vote in the constituency in his/her place of residence, as mentioned in the passport, is located.
• He/She can only vote in person and will have to produce her passport in original at the polling station for establishing identity.

Current Strength of NRI Voters:

• According to a United Nations report of 2015, India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world at 16 million people.
• However, registration of NRI voters has been very low with a little over one lakh overseas Indians registered as voters in India.
• In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, roughly 25,000 of them flew to India to vote.

Non Resident Indian

1. According to India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA), NRI is an Indian citizen or Foreign National of Indian Origin residing outside India for purposes of employment, carrying on business or vocation in circumstances that would indicate an intention to stay outside India for an indefinite period.
2. Visiting NRIs whose total income (which is defined as taxable income) in India is up to Rs. 15 lakh during the financial year will continue to remain NRIs if the stay does not exceed 181 days.
3. The Union Budget 2020 proposed to reduce this period to 120 days for all NRIs.

News Source: TH