Date: 2015-01-16Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
The Central Govt. hereby makes the following rules to amend the Citizenship Rules, 2009, These rules may be called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2015.
Executive Summary:
This document outlines amendments to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, as per powers conferred by Section 18 of the Citizenship Act, 1955. These amendments, effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette (January 16, 2015), address residency requirements, registration processes for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and declaration procedures. Key changes affect OCI cardholders, spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, and the forms used for citizenship and OCI-related processes.
Key Points / Main Content:
Residency Requirements:
* Rule 8 and 9 amended: The Central Government may relax the twelve-month residency requirement under special circumstances, according to subsection 1A of section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
* Revised requirements for citizenship applications based on residency and OCI cardholder status.
OCI Cardholder Registration and Renunciation:
* Rule 30 is omitted.
* Rule 31 amended: Specifies authorities for submitting applications in India.
* Rule 32 amended: Introduces prior security clearance for OCI registration of foreign-origin spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, as per Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
* Rule 34 substituted: Establishes a new process for renouncing an OCI card, requiring Form XXXI, the original registration certificate, submission to an Indian Mission/Post or the Ministry of Home Affairs, and issuance of acknowledgment in Form XXXII.
Form Modifications:
* Form VI and VII amended: Updates to Part I, serial number 6, concerning details of residence in India.
* Form XXVIII amended:
* Omission of references to rules 291 and 30 and serial number 14 in Part A.
* Insertion of serial number 14 in Part B regarding applicant's involvement with Armed Forces/Police.
* Substitution of serial number 17 in Part B regarding applicant's or their ancestors' citizenship of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
* Form XXXI amended: Updates the heading for clarity regarding renunciation of OCI cardholder status under Section 7C.
* Schedule IV amended: Deletion of serial numbers 12 and 13 related to fees.
Terminology Update:
* Throughout the Citizenship Rules, 2009, "overseas citizenship of India," "overseas citizen of India," or "overseas citizen" are replaced with "Overseas Citizen of India cardholder."
Impact Analysis:
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders:
* Impact: Revised residency requirements, changes in registration and renunciation procedures, and updated forms.
* Action Required: Familiarize themselves with the new rules for residency, security clearance (if applicable), and renunciation. Use updated forms for any applications or declarations.
Spouses of Indian Citizens or OCI Cardholders (of Foreign Origin):
* Impact: Introduction of mandatory prior security clearance for OCI registration.
* Action Required: Undergo security clearance before OCI registration.
Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the relaxed residency requirements under special circumstances.
* Action Required: Implement and oversee the new security clearance procedures and update the register of Overseas Citizen of India cardholders.
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO):
* Impact: Authority for receiving applications within India.
* Action Required: Process applications per amended rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Citizenship Act, 1955: A law that governs citizenship in India. Section 18 and subsections 1A of section 5 and section 7A are specifically mentioned.
Citizenship Rules, 2009: The set of rules being amended by this notification. Several rules and forms within it are mentioned, like rule 8, 9, 30, 31, 32, 34 and FORM VI, FORM VII, FORM XXVIII, FORM XXXI
Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2015: The name given to the amendments to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, as per this notification.
Overseas Citizen of India cardholder: A category of foreign citizens of Indian origin, to whom certain provisions of the amended rules apply. Section 7C is mentioned.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for citizenship matters. It is mentioned in the context of application submissions and declaration of renunciation of OCI card.
Central Government: The government of India, which is granted certain powers by the Citizenship Act, 1955, to relax certain conditions.
New Delhi: Capital of India, place of publication of the notification.
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer: An officer to whom applications can be submitted.
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EXTRAORDINARY
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PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
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PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
la- 33] ubZ fnYyh] 'kqØokj] tuojh 16] 2015@ik"Sk 26] 1936
No. 33] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015/PAUSA 26, 1936
गगगगृहृहृहृह मममम(cid:7)(cid:7)ंं(cid:7)(cid:7)ंं ााााललललयययय
अअअअििििधधधधससससचचूूचचूू ननननाााा
नई (cid:1)द(cid:3)ली, 16 जनवरी, 2015
ससससाााा....ककककाााा....ििििनननन.... 33335555 ((((अअअअ))))....————के(cid:8) (cid:10)ीय सरकार, नाग(cid:14)रकता अिधिनयम, 1955 (1955 का 57) क(cid:22) धारा 18 (cid:23)ारा (cid:24)द(cid:25) त शि(cid:27) तय(cid:28) का (cid:24)योग
करते (cid:30)ए नाग(cid:14)रकता िनयम, 2009 का संशोधन करने के िलए िन" निलिखत िनयम बनाती ह,ै अथा$त् :—
1. (1) इन िनयम(cid:28) का संि’( त नाम नाग(cid:14)रकता (संशोधन) िनयम, 2015 ह ै
(2) ये उनके राजप, म- (cid:24)काशन क(cid:22) तारीख से (cid:24)वृ(cid:25) त ह(cid:28)गे ।
2. नाग(cid:14)रकता िनयम, 2009 म-,—
(क) िनयम 8 म-,-
(i) खंड (ग) के 3 थान पर िनम् निलिखत खंड रखा जाएगा, अथा$त् :—
"(ग) वह आवेदन करने क(cid:22) तारीख को कम से कम बारह मास क(cid:22) अविध के िलए भारत म- मामूली तौर से िनवासी
ह;ै और";
(ii) खंड (घ) के प8 चात् िन" निलिखत परंतुक अंत:3 थािपत (cid:1)कया जाएगा, अथा$त:् —
"परंतु खंड (ग) म- िन:द; ट बारह मास क(cid:22) अविध को िवशेष प(cid:14)रि3थितय(cid:28) म- के(cid:8) (cid:10)ीय सरकार (cid:23)ारा नाग(cid:14)रकता अिधिनयम,
1955 क(cid:22) धारा 5 क(cid:22) उपधारा (1क)के अधीन िशिथल (cid:1)कया जा सकेगा ।";
(ख) िनयम 9 म-
(i) खंड (ग) के 3 थान पर िनम् निलिखत खंड रखा जाएगा, अथा$त् :—
229 GI/2015 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
"(ग) वह कम से कम पांच वष$ क(cid:22) अविध के िलए िवदशे ी भारतीय काड$धारक ह ै और आवेदन करने क(cid:22) तारीख को बारह
मास क(cid:22) अविध के िलए मामूली तौर से भारत म- िनवासी ह ै; और ";
(ii) खंड (घ) के प8 चात् िन" निलिखत परंतुक अंत:3 थािपत (cid:1)कया जाएगा, अथा$त:् —
"परंतु खंड (ग) म- िन:द; ट बारह मास क(cid:22) अविध को िवशेष प(cid:14)रि3थितय(cid:28) म- के(cid:8) (cid:10)ीय सरकार (cid:23)ारा नाग(cid:14)रकता अिधिनयम,
1955 क(cid:22) धारा 5 क(cid:22) उपधारा (1क)के अधीन िशिथल (cid:1)कया जा सकेगा ।";
(ग) िनयम 30 का लोप (cid:1)कया जाएगा ;
(घ) िनयम 31 म-,-
(i) " यथाि3 थित, िनयम 29 या िनयम 30" शB द(cid:28) और अंक(cid:28) के 3 थान पर " िनयम 29" शB द और अंक रखे जाएगं े ;
(ii) खंड (क) के 3 थान पर िन" निलिखत खंड रखा जाएगा , अथा$त् : —
"(क) भारत म- –
(i) िवदशे ी (cid:24)ादिेशक रिज3 Cीकरण अिधकारी (एफआरआरओ) को जैसा(cid:1)क के(cid:8) (cid:10)ीय सरकार (cid:23)ारा िविन:द; ट
(cid:1)कया जाए ; या
(ii) गृह मं,ालय के िवदशे ी (cid:24)भाग को ; " ;
(ड.) िनयम 32 म- उपिनयम (1) के प8च ात् िन" निलिखत उपिनयम अंत:3थािपत (cid:1)कया जाएगा, अथा$त् :—
"(1क) नाग(cid:14)रकता अिधिनयम, 1955 क(cid:22) धारा 7क क(cid:22) उपधारा (1) के खंड (घ) म- िन:द; ट D यि(cid:27) त क(cid:22) दशा म- जो भारत
के नाग(cid:14)रक का िवदशे ी मूल का पित या प(cid:25) नी ह ैया िवदशे ी भारतीय काड$धारक का िवदशे ी मलू का पित या प(cid:25)न ी ह,ै ऐस ेDय ि(cid:27)त
का िवदशे ी भारतीय काडध$ ारक के Fप म- रिज3 Cीकरण भारत म- स’म (cid:24)ािधकारी क(cid:22) पूव$ सुर’ा िनकासी जैसा (cid:1)क नाग(cid:14)रकता
अिधिनयम, 1955 क(cid:22) धारा 7क क(cid:22) उपधारा (1) के उ(cid:27) त खंड (घ) म- उपबंिधत है के अधीन होगा ।" ;
(च) िन यम 34 के 3 थान पर, िन " निल िख त रखा जाएगा, अथा$त् :--
''''''''33334444.... भभभभााााररररतततत ककककेेेे ििििवववव दददद ेशेशेशेशीीीी ननननाााागगगग(cid:16)(cid:16)(cid:16)(cid:16)रररर कक कक ककककेेेे ककककााााडडडड(cid:20) (cid:20) (cid:20) (cid:20) ककककेेेे (cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:21) य य य यजजजजनननन कककक(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:23) घघघघोोोोषषषषणणणणाााा————(1) धारा 7ग के अधीन (cid:1)क सी D यि(cid:27) त (cid:23)ारा भारत के
िवद शे ी नाग(cid:14)र क के Fप म- रिज 3 Cीकरण करने के काड$ के (cid:25) यजन क(cid:22) घोषणा (cid:24)Fप 31 म- क(cid:22) जाएगी, िज सके साथ भारत के
िवद शे ी नाग(cid:14)र क काड$ धारक के रिज 3 Cीकरण का मूल (cid:24)माणप, संबंिध त भारतीय िमश न या पो3 ट या गृह मं,ालय, भारत
सरकार को भेजा जाएगा, जो उसे उस (cid:24)ािध कारी को अJेिष त कर-गे, िजस ने उ(cid:27) त रिज 3 Cीकरण (cid:24)माणप, जारी (cid:1)क या ह ै।
(2) भारत के िव दशे ी नाग(cid:14)र क काड$ धारक को रिज 3 Cीकरण करने वाले ऐसे काड$ के (cid:25) यजन क(cid:22) घोषणा के (cid:24)ा( त होने पर
िन ग$म (cid:24)ािध कारी (cid:24)Fप 32 म- एक अिभ 3 वीकृित जारी करेगा और घोषणाकता$ के नाम को भारत के िव देशी नाग(cid:14)र क के रिज3 टर से
हटा दगे ा ।'' ;
(छ) (cid:24)Fप 6 म-, भाग 1 म-, Kम सं0 6 और उससे संबंिध त (cid:24)िव ि; ट य(cid:28) के 3 थान पर िन" निल िख त Kम स0ं और (cid:24)िव ; टयां रखी
जाएगं ी, अथा$त् :--
''6. भारत म- िन वास के B यौरे :
(क) भारत मे (cid:24)वेश क(cid:22) तारीख
(ख) मLने आवेदन क(cid:22) तारीख से ठीक पूव$ 12 मास क(cid:22) कालाविध के हां/नहN
िलए भारत म- लगातार िन वास (cid:1)क या ह ै¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(i)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3
िपछ ल ेपांच वष$ के दौरान भारत म- िन वास के B यौरे :
K.सं. भारत म- िन वास के पते के से तक वष$/मास
साथ B यौरे
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
(ज) (cid:24)Fप 7 म-, भाग 1 म-, Kम सं0 6 और उससे संबंिध त (cid:24)िव ि; ट य(cid:28) के 3 थान पर िन" निल िख त Kम सं0 और (cid:24)िव ; टयां रखी
जाएगं ी, अथा$त् :—
''6. भारत म- िन वास के B यौरे :
(क) भारत मे (cid:24)वेश क(cid:22) तारीख
(ख) मLने आवेदन क(cid:22) तारीख से ठीक पूव$ 12 मास क(cid:22) हां/नहN
कालाविध के िल ए भारत म- लगातार िन वास (cid:1)क या ह ै
भारत के िव देशी नाग(cid:14)र क काड$ धारक के Fप म- रिज 3 Cीकरण के प8 चात् िपछ ले पांच वष$ के दौरान भारत म- िन वास के B यौरे :
K.सं. भारत म- िन वास के से तक वष$/मास
पते के साथ B यौरे
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
(झ) (cid:24)Fप 28 म-,—
(i) ''िन यम 29(1) और िन यम 30 दखे -'' शB द(cid:28), अंक(cid:28) और को; ठक(cid:28) के 3 थान पर ''िन यम 29(1) दखे -'' शB द, अंक और को; ठक रखे
जाएगं े ;
(ii) भाग 1 म-, ''पहले आवेदक के Bय ौरे'' , ''आवेदक पित -प(cid:25) नी के Bय ौर'' और ''अ(cid:24)ा( तवय बालक के B यौरे- 1 आवेदक के B यौरे और
''अ(cid:24)ा( तवय बालक के B यौरे- 2 आवेदक के B यौरे'' , 'Kम सं0 14 और उससे संबंिध त (cid:24)िव ि; ट य(cid:28) का लोप (cid:1)क या जाएगा ;
(iii) भाग ख म-,—
(क) Kम स0ं 15 और उससे संबंिधत (cid:24)िव ि; ट य(cid:28) के पूव$ िन " निल िख त Kम सं0 और (cid:24)िव ि; ट यां अंत:3 थािप त क(cid:22) जाएगं ी, अथा$त् :--
''14. (cid:27) या आवेदक(क(cid:28)) (अ(cid:24)ा( तवय बालक/बालक(cid:28) से िभ (cid:8) न) हां/नहN
सश3 , बल(cid:28)/पुिल स/अध$सैिन क/सुर’ा/असूचना संगठन(cid:28) म- काय$
(cid:1)क या ह/ैकाय$ कर रहा है ?
य(cid:1)द हा,ं तो िविन :द ; ट B यौरे द- ।'';
(ख) Kम सं0 17 और उससे संबंिधत (cid:24)िव ि; ट य(cid:28) के 3 थान पर िन" निल िख त Kम स0ं और (cid:24)िव ि; ट यां रखी जाएगी, अथा$त् :--4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
''17(क) (cid:27) या आवेदक कभी या (cid:1)क सी भी समय हां/नहN
पा(cid:1)क 3 तान या बांP लादशे का नाग(cid:14)र क रहा था ?
य(cid:1)द हां, तो िविन :द ; ट ब् यौरे द -।'';
(ख) (cid:27) या आवेदक के माता-िप ता या िप तामह-िप तामही हां/नहN
या महािप तामह- महिप तामही कभी या (cid:1)क सी भी समय
पा(cid:1)क 3 तान या बांP लादशे का नाग(cid:14)र क रही थी ?
य(cid:1)द हां, तो िव िश ; ट B यौरे द -।'';
(ञ) (cid:24)Fप 31 म-, शीष$ के 3 थान पर िन " निल िख त शीष$ रखा जाएगा, अथा$त ् :--
''नाग(cid:14)र कता अिध िन यम, 1955 क(cid:22) धारा 7ग(1) के अधीन भारत का िव दशे ी नाग(cid:14)र क काड $ हो(cid:3) डर के Fप म- रिज 3 Cीकरण करने
के काड $के (cid:25) यजन क(cid:22) घोषणा'';
(ट) अनुसूची 4 म-, फ(cid:22)स क(cid:22) सारणी म-, Kम सं. 12 और Kम सं0 13 तथा उनसे संबंिध त (cid:24)िवि; ट य(cid:28) का लोप (cid:1)क या जाएगा ;
(ठ) संपूण$ नाग(cid:14)र कता िन यम, 2009 म-, ''भारत क(cid:22) िव दशे ी नाग(cid:14)र कता'', ''भारत का िवद शे ी नाग(cid:14)र क'' या ''िवद शे ी नाग(cid:14)र क''
शB द, जहा-ं जहां वे आते ह,L के 3 थान पर, Kमश: ''भारत का िव दशे ी नाग(cid:14)र क काड$ धारक'' शB द रखे जाएंगे ।
[फा. सं. 26011/01/01/2014-आईसी-1]
जी.के.ि(cid:23) वेदी, संयु(cid:27) त सिच व
(cid:16)(cid:16)(cid:16)(cid:16)टटटट (cid:29)(cid:29) (cid:29)(cid:29) पप पप णणणण :::: मूल िन यम, भारत के राजप,, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) म- सा.का.िन . सं. 124(अ), तारीख 25 फरवरी, 2009 (cid:23)ारा
(cid:24)कािश त (cid:1)क ए गए थे ।
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th January, 2015
G.S.R. 35(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 18 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the
Central Government hereby makes the following rules to amend the Citizenship Rules, 2009, namely :—
1. (1) These rules may be called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2015.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Citizenship Rules, 2009, -
(a) in rule 8,-
(i) for clause (c), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :-
“(c) he is ordinarily resident in India for a period of at least twelve months on the date of making
application; and” ;
(ii) after clause (d), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :-
“Provided that the period of twelve months referred to in clause (c) may, under special circumstances,
be relaxed by the Central Government under sub-section (1A) of section 5 of the Citizenship Act,
1955.”;
(b) in rule 9,—
(i) for clause (c), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :-¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(i)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 5
“(c) he has been an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder for a period of at least five years and is
ordinarily resident in India for a period of twelve months on the date of making application;
and” ;
(ii) after clause (d), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :-
“Provided that the period of twelve months referred to in clause (c) may, under special circumstances,
be relaxed by the Central Government under sub-section (1A) of section 5 of the Citizenship Act,
1955.” ;
(c) rule 30 shall be omitted ;
(d) in rule 31,-
(i) the words and figures “or as the case may be, rule 30” shall be omitted ;
(ii) for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-
“(a) in India –
(i) to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) as may be specified by the
Central Government; or
(ii) to the Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs;” ;
(e) in rule 32, after sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely :-
“(1A) In the case of a person referred to in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7A of the Citizenship
Act, 1955, who is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or a spouse of foreign origin of an
Overseas Citizen of India cardholder, the registration as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder of such
person shall be subject to prior security clearance from a competent authority in India as provided under
the said clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.” ;
(f) for rule 34, the following rule shall be substituted, namely :—“34. Declaration of renunciation of
Overseas Citizen of India card.- (1) A declaration of renunciation of the card registering a person as an
Overseas Citizen of India cardholder under section 7C shall be made in Form XXXI, accompanied with the
original certificate of registration of Overseas Citizen of India cardholder, to the concerned Indian Mission
or Post or the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, who in turn, shall forward the same to the
authority which issued the said certificate of registration.
(2) On receipt of the declaration of renunciation of the card registering as an Overseas Citizen of India
cardholder, the issuing authority shall issue an acknowledgement in Form XXXII and remove the name of
the declarant from the register of Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.” ;
(g) in FORM VI, in PART I, for serial number 6 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number
and entries shall be substituted, namely :-
“6. Details of residence in India:
(a) Date of entry in India ……………………….
(b) I have resided in India continuously Yes/No
for a period of 12 months immediately
preceding the date of application
Details of residence in India for the last five years:
S.No. Details with address of From To Years Months
residence in India
1 2 3 4 5
” ;
(h) in FORM VII, in PART I, for serial number 6 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number
and entries shall be substituted, namely :6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
“6. Details of residence in India:
(a) Date of entry in India ……………………
(b) I have resided in India continuously Yes/ No
for a period of 12 months immediately
preceding the date of application
Details of residence in India for the last five years after registration as Overseas Citizen of India
cardholder:
S.No. Details with From To Years Months
address of
residence in
India
1 2 3 4 5
” ;
(i) in Form XXVIII,-
(i) for the words, figures and brackets “See rule 29(1) and 30”, the words, figures and brackets “See
rule 29(1)” shall be substituted ;
(ii) in PART A, under the headings “First Applicant Details”, “Spouse Applicant Details”, “Minor
child -1 Applicant Details” and “Minor child -2 Applicant Details”, serial number 14 and the
entries relating thereto shall be omitted ;
(iii) in Part B, -
(A) before serial number 15 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and
entries shall be inserted, namely :-
“14. Whether the applicant(s) (other than the minor child/ children) has worked/ is working in
Armed Forces/ Police/ Para-military/ security/intelligence organizations?
Yes/No
If yes, give specific details.” ;
(B) for serial number 17 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and the
entries shall be substituted, namely :-
“17 (a) Whether the applicant(s) had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh at any
time?
Yes/No
If yes, give specific details.
(b) Whether either of the parents or grandparents or great grandparents of the
applicant(s) had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh at any time?
Yes/No
If yes, give specific details” ;
(j) in Form XXXI, for the heading, the following heading shall be substituted, namely :-
“DECLARATION OF RENUNCIATION OF THE CARD REGISTERING AS AN OVERSEAS
CITIZEN OF INDIA CARDHOLDER UNDER SECTION 7C (1) OF THE CITIZENSHIP ACT,
1955 MADE BY AN OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA CARDHOLDER” ;¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(i)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 7
(k) in SCHEDULE IV, in the TABLE OF FEES, serial numbers 12 and 13 and the entries relating thereto shall
be omitted ;
(l) throughout the Citizenship Rules, 2009, for the words “overseas citizenship of India”, “overseas citizen of
India” or “overseas citizen” wherever they occur, the words “Overseas Citizen of India cardholder” shall
respectively be substituted.
[F. No. 26011/01/2014-IC.I]
G. K. DWIVEDI, Jt. Secy.
Note : The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, sub-section (i) vide
number G.S.R. 124(E), dated the 25th February, 2009.
Printed by the Manager, Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.