**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of External Affairs' response in Lok Sabha to Unstarred Question No. 940, answered on December 5, 2025. It addresses the establishment of new diplomatic missions and consulates during FY 2025-26, outlining their locations and the strategic rationale behind their selection. It details that 1 new mission has been opened in Quito, Ecuador and 4 new consulates have been opened in Boston (USA), Los Angeles (USA), Kazan (Russia) and Yekaterinburg (Russia).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **New Diplomatic Missions and Consulates in FY 2025:**
* One new Mission has been opened in Quito, Ecuador.
* Four new Consulates have been opened in:
* Boston (USA)
* Los Angeles (USA)
* Kazan (Russia)
* Yekaterinburg (Russia)
* **Rationale for Establishing Missions and Consulates:**
* The Ministry of External Affairs formulates proposals for opening resident Missions in countries where no Indian Missions exist.
* New Consulates are established to improve coverage and services.
* The Government's foreign policy vision is to maximize India's presence abroad, building a conducive environment for growth and development.
* Countries are identified based on:
* Potential for strategic cooperation
* Potential for bilateral trade and investment
* Strong Diaspora presence
* To bolster political outreach in multilateral fora
* Signalling India's commitment to stepping up of diplomatic engagement
* **Operational Model:**
* The opening of Missions and Consulates abroad is determined by India's strategic interest within available financial and human resources.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of External Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the sustained operations of the missions, budget allocation, infrastructure and human resource planning, and opening Missions and Consulates based on strategic interest.
* **Action Required:** Formulate proposals for resident missions, improve existing consulate coverage and services, and maximize India’s presence aboard to optimize foreign policy vision.
**Stakeholder: Indian Citizens Abroad**
* **Impact:** Enhanced support and services through the new consulates, increased global visibility of India.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the services provided by the new missions and consulates.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: Indian government ministry responsible for foreign affairs; the primary subject of the document.
Diplomatic Missions and Consulates: Indian diplomatic outposts abroad; the focus of the questions and answers in the document.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 940
ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025
NEW DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULATES
940. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE
SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE
SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE
SMT. BHARTI PARDHI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the number of new diplomatic missions and consulates proposed
to be opened during FY 2025–26 and their geographic distribution;
(b) the strategic rationale for selecting these countries, including
diaspora presence, economic opportunities or geopolitical priorities;
1(c) the model adopted for operationalising these missions
sustainably, including budget allocation, infrastructure and human
resource planning; and
(d) the manner in which such an expansion enhances India’s global
visibility, supports Indian citizens abroad, and contributes to India’s
image as a responsible development partner and leader in
international cooperation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) In FY 2025, 01 new Mission has been opened in Quito (Ecuador)
and 4 new Consulates have been opened in Boston (USA), Los
Angeles (USA), Kazan (Russia) and Yekaterinburg (Russia).
(b to d) The Ministry of External Affairs from time to time
formulates proposals for opening of resident Missions in countries
where there are no Indian Missions. It also establishes new
Consulates to improve coverage and render better services. The
broad foreign policy vision of the Government is to maximize India’s
presence abroad in the most optimal manner. The objective of our
foreign policy is also to build a conducive environment for India’s
growth and development through partnerships with friendly
2countries. Countries are identified for opening of resident Indian
Missions on the basis of potential for deepening strategic
cooperation; strong potential for bilateral trade and investment;
strong Diaspora presence; to bolster political outreach in
multilateral fora; and for signalling India’s commitment to stepping
up of diplomatic engagement with important countries/regions etc.
The opening of Missions and Consulates abroad is determined by
India’s overall strategic interest within the available financial and
human resources.
*****
3