GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India, protection of people.
Context:
- The Union Home Ministry granted emergency visas to 111 Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan, hours after Saturday’s terror attack at a gurdwara in Kabul.
- All had applied for visas in September 2021, but the applications were cleared only after the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), a terrorist group, attacked the gurdwara.
e-emergency X-Misc Visa
- To facilitate and fast-track urgent applications for entry to India.
- e-Emergency X-Misc Visa is granted to foreigners who are not covered in the available categories of visa but need to visit India urgently due to a family emergency.
- Such a single-entry visa is issued by Indian Missions/Posts for an appropriate period of time.
- The facility is available to all Afghans irrespective of their religion. The (initial) validity of this visa would be six months.
Insta Links
What is an electronic visa (e-visa)? Click here
Practice Questions:
Q. The e-visa system is an innovation introduced by the government in 2014. Discuss the process and current status of e-visas.
Q. Consider the following statements:
- The visas are granted by the Ministry of External Affairs(GOI).
- e- Emergency X-Misc Visa is available to Afghan Sikhs and Hindus only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct:
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (d)
