Parliament Question: Identification of trafficking agents

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 88 ANSWERED ON - 29/01/2026 IDENTIFICATION OF TRAFFICKING AGENTS 88. SHRI SANT BALBIR SINGH Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:- (a) whether Government has identified agents, intermediaries or international trafficking networks involved in cheating Indian youth by offering fake jobs and illegally sending them to the Russian Army; (b) the details of criminal, legal and diplomatic actions that have been initiated against such individuals or networks, both within India and abroad; and (c) whether Government is engaging with Russian authorities to ensure accountability, justice and prevention of such incidents in future? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (c) Ministry comes to know about such fraudulent activities of illegal/unscrupulous recruitment agents/agencies in the country as and when a complaint is filed by aggrieved emigrants or their relatives/friends/family members, who have been cheated, as these Indian nationals proceed abroad on their own volition through fraudulent/unscrupulous recruitment agents/agencies and through illegal channels. Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding for employment abroad. As per The Emigration Act 1983, no person/agency can function as Recruiting Agent (RA) without a valid license issued by the Registering Authority i.e. Protector General of Emigrants. Mandatory registration of RA is aimed to reduce fraud and exploitation of prospective Indian emigrants proceeding for employment abroad. As and when complaints against the illegal agents/dubious firms luring Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various channels are received, such matters are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution under the relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislation in place including the ones enacted by some State Governments. 1Government of India and our Embassy in Russia have issued advisories cautioning Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian Army. Ministry also issues advisories through eMigrate portal, social media handles and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent the same. Till December 2025, a total of 3,505 unregistered agents in country have been notified on the eMigrate portal. Awareness campaign on safe and legal migration through eMigrate portal is carried out by the Ministry across the country from time to time by conducting workshops, trainings, information sessions, digital campaigns for media groups, police officials and law enforcement agencies, local administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public. During these sessions, awareness on emigration regulations, schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT), eMigrate portal and various advisories issued by Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders including job seekers, and advise them to verify all antecedents of Recruiting Agents before accepting any kind of employment offer and not be enticed and entrapped in the fraudulent job offers. Government of India remains engaged, including at the highest levels, with the Government of the Russian Federation, to ensure the safety, well-being, and early discharge of all Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces. ***** 2