New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its ex post facto approval to the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indians Bill, 2019 which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The Bill seeks to provide safeguards to Indian women who are trapped in fraudulent marriages with NRIs.

"The Bill provides for amendment of the legal framework to act as a deterrent to the erring NRI spouses and creating more accountability and offer protection against exploitation of Indian Citizens married to NRIs," Union Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Once the Bill is passed, marriages by NRIs would be registered in India or Indian missions and posts abroad, and necessary changes would be carried out in the Passports Act and Code of Criminal Procedure, an official statement said.

Goyal said the Bill would offer great protection to Indian citizens married to NRIs, and serve as a deterrent to NRIs against harassment of their spouses and benefit Indian women married to NRIs worldwide.