All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are required to take special permission from the central government if they want to be involved in any missionary, ‘Tabligh’ or journalistic activities, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday.

OCI is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin and their spouses that allows them to live and work in India indefinitely. However, OCI status is not citizenship and does not grant the right to vote in Indian elections or hold public office. It only provides for multiple entry lifelong visas for visiting India for any purpose.

According to the notification, starting from March 4, OCI cardholders are:

required to take a special permission or a Special Permit from the competent authority or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or the Indian mission concerned for undertaking any research; any Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalistic activities; internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign government organisations or to take up employment in any foreign diplomatic missions here; or to visit any place which falls within protected or restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the Central government.

The notification comes in the aftermath of a crackdown on activists of the Tablighi Jamaat–an organisation that works to exhort Muslims to follow Islam as it was practised during the times of Prophet Mohammed. In the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, one of their gatherings in Delhi turned into a superspreader event and led to heightened tensions in the country.