Parliament Question: Role of Indian Embassies Abroad

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO - 196 ANSWERED ON- 01.08.2025 ROLE OF INDIAN EMBASSIES ABROAD *196. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government maintains a record of Indian emigrants, if so, the details of the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) living in various countries, country-wise; (b) the role of the respective Embassies and Consulates in protecting the human rights of Indian emigrants; (c) the name of the country, if any, where India does not have a consulate or embassy despite settlement of huge Indian diaspora therein along with the reasons therefor; and (d) whether cultural attaches have been deputed in all Indian Embassies and Consulates to protect the religious and cultural sentiments of Indian emigrants, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? 1ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR) (a) To (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House. 2STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 196 FOR REPLY ON 01.08.2025 REGARDING ROLE OF INDIAN EMBASSIES IN ABROAD ASKED BY SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL (a) A PIO/OCI (Person of Indian Origin/Overseas Citizen of India) is a citizen/national of a foreign country who, or whose ancestor, traces their origin to India. The Government of India has introduced several initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with them. These efforts focus on reconnecting them with their cultural roots, supporting their visits to India, and extending certain privileges. Programmes like the Know India Programme (KIP) offer young PIOs a 21-day immersive experience in India to learn about the nation’s development and heritage. Indian Missions abroad promote cultural engagement by supporting diaspora-led events under the Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD). Consular support is also extended to PIOs and OCIs, especially during crises. In addition to welfare services, the Indian government offers several benefits under the OCI Scheme. OCIs enjoy lifelong multiple-entry visas, exemption from police registration, and parity with NRIs in economic, 3financial, and educational sectors, with a few exceptions like agricultural land ownership. They too have advantages in employment opportunities. They also benefit from domestic pricing at national parks, monuments, and airfares. To promote intellectual engagement, research grants are offered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for NRI, PIO, and OCI scholars working in priority areas in India. Together, these initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to fostering a deeper, enduring connection between India and its global diaspora. As per available inputs, the population of overseas Indians is 3,43,56,193, out of which 1,71,81,071 are Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 1,71,75,122 are NRIs. The country-wise details are attached at Annexure – A. (b) The Government accords the highest priority to the safety, protection and well-being of all Indian nationals abroad, with various mechanisms in place to address such issues. It has established such mechanisms to enable Indian nationals abroad to reach out to the Indian Missions in case they need any assistance. Indian nationals can contact the Missions/Posts through various channels like walk-in, email, social media, multilingual 424x7 emergency numbers and also grievance redressal portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS, eMigrate etc. In addition, Indian Missions/Posts abroad have established toll-free helplines, Whatsapp numbers and have launched mobile apps to enable Indian nationals contact concerned Indian Missions/Posts when in distress or in emergency situation. To ensure safe and orderly emigration for Indian emigrant workers, the process of recruitment is done through eMigrate portal. The web-based application makes the process of emigration fully digital, transparent, safe, legal, humane, efficient, convenient and faster. A dedicated helpline and support system is also available to assist emigrants and other stakeholders to address any query/issue. Moreover, Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSK) have been set up in New Delhi, Dubai (UAE), Riyadh and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Kshetriya Pravasi Sahayata Kendras (KPSKs) in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Patna and Chandigarh to provide assistance, guidance and counseling to Indian nationals in distress. 5Our Missions/Posts abroad also utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide the following assistance to the Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested basis: (i) Transportation of mortal remains to India or cremation with the consent of the family; (ii) Emergency medical care; (iii) Legal assistance; (iv) Boarding and lodging; and (v) Air passage for stranded Indians. Besides, the Missions in Gulf Countries have provisions for shelter home to assist Indian women in distress by providing boarding and lodging, medical treatment and arranging for their repatriation. Female workers who are stranded and are in distress can approach the Embassies at any time of the day and they are accommodated and provided all facilities till they are repatriated to India. Further, the Government has taken several initiatives such as Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) in ensuring that Indian migrant workers undertake safe migration, have 6decent working and living conditions in destination countries, are aware of their rights and have access to various welfare schemes of the Government. Based on MoUs signed with the GCC countries, matters related to welfare and protection of workers are taken up during regular meetings of Joint Working Groups with concerned countries. In addition, such matters are also regularly taken up with respective host governments through diplomatic channels. Further, Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements have been signed with seven countries, which seek to enhance global employment opportunities for Indian workers while protecting their labour rights, preventing irregular migration and supporting skill development. (c) India currently has 219 Missions and Posts abroad. All countries with significant Indian diaspora are covered. (d) Promotion of Indian culture and development of cultural interaction with the host country is an integral part of the activities of all Indian Missions abroad. All Heads of Indian Missions and Posts abroad actively 7promote awareness of Indian culture in their host countries. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has 38 Cultural Centres (list attached at Annexure B). These Centres engage with the Indian diaspora, fostering a sense of community and promoting Indian culture among those living abroad. In other Missions and Posts where there are no cultural centres under the auspices of ICCR, officers in the Missions and Posts are designated to look after the promotion of Indian culture abroad and they maintain cultural connect with the Indian diaspora. 8ANNEXURE- A Data on Indian Diaspora Abroad (as of January 2025) Total Overseas S.No. Country/Territory PIOs NRIs Indians 1 Afghanistan 158 0 158 2 Albania 7 450 457 3 Algeria 27 4024 4051 4 Andorra 200 50 250 5 Angola 59 71 130 Antingua & 6 200 300 500 Barbuda 7 Argentina 1800 800 2600 8 Armenia 19 5430 5449 9 Aruba 400 600 1000 10 Australia 626000 350000 976000 11 Austria 18500 14400 32900 12 Azerbaijan 83 672 755 13 Bahamas 20 280 300 14 Bahrain 4506 342350 346856 915 Bangladesh 10 7000 7010 16 Barbados 2500 600 3100 17 Belarus 150 1266 1416 18 Belgium 13204 23343 36547 19 Belize 1300 200 1500 20 Benin 4 996 1000 21 Bhutan 0 60000 60,000 22 Bolivia 15 47 62 Bonaire & Smaller 23 12 54 66 Islands Bosnia and 24 7 20 27 Herzegovina 25 Botswana 3000 9500 12500 26 Brazil 863 2460 3323 British Virgin 27 20 80 100 Islands Brunei 28 240 14500 14740 Darussalam 29 Bulgaria 1077 949 2026 30 Burkina Faso 350 150 500 1031 Burundi 35 700 735 32 Cambodia 100 4400 4500 33 Cameroon 0 1500 1500 34 Canada 1859680 1751610 3611290 35 Cape Verde 1 39 40 36 Cayman Islands 100 900 1000 Central African 37 0 70 70 Republic 38 Chad 0 250 250 39 Chile 2100 2000 4100 40 China 59787 43683 103470 41 Colombia 252 758 1010 Commonwealth of 42 500 40 540 Dominica 43 Comoros 200 20 220 Congo 44 (Democratic 5000 30000 35000 Republic) Republic of 45 0 875 875 Congo 1146 Cook Islands 5 0 5 47 Costa Rica 39 1011 1050 48 Cote D Ivory 44 6532 6576 49 Croatia 82 17139 17221 50 Cuba 0 0 0 51 Curacao 800 700 1500 52 Cyprus 398 11119 11517 53 Czech Republic 600 10124 10724 54 Denmark 3499 18958 22457 55 Djibouti 8 1000 1008 Dominica 56 2 75 77 Republic 57 Ecuador 82 269 351 58 Egypt 366 5134 5500 59 El Salvador 1 20 21 60 Equatorial Guinea 0 400 400 61 Eritrea 0 140 140 62 Estonia 40 1928 1968 63 Eswatini 0 3184 3184 64 Ethiopia 105 5900 6,005 1265 Fiji 313818 2290 316108 66 Finland 15989 13068 29057 67 France 90000 29000 119000 France (Reunion 68 300000 159 300159 Island) France 69 57000 180 57180 (Guadeloupe) France 70 8000 90 8090 (Martinique) France (St. 71 1800 150 1950 Martin) 72 Gabon 10 800 810 73 Gambia 20 2100 2120 74 Georgia 5 250 255 75 Germany 176500 273890 450390 76 Ghana 321 15000 15321 77 Greece 158 11333 11491 78 Grenada 4511 189 4700 79 Guatemala 16 126 142 80 51 1390 1441 Guinea (Republic 13of) 81 Guinea-Bissau 0 300 300 82 Guyana 320000 2700 322700 83 Haiti 0 36 36 84 Holy See 30 15 45 85 Honduras 277 8457 8734 86 Hungary 2200 6800 9000 87 Iceland 237 509 746 88 Indonesia 120000 14817 134817 89 Iran 445 10320 10765 90 Iraq 0 17100 17100 91 Ireland 37,812 45,000 82,812 92 Israel 85,000 38,000 123,000 Data not 93 Italy 170880 170880 available 94 Jamaica 70000 5000 75000 95 Japan 1597 51345 52942 96 Jordan 153 16897 17050 97 Kazakhstan 423 1095 1518 98 Kenya 60,000 20,000 80,000 1499 Kirbati 50 2 52 100 Korea (DPR) 1 15 16 101 Korea (ROK) 444 16816 17260 102 Kuwait 2,356 10,07,961 10,10,317 103 Kyrgyzstan 61 200 261 104 Laos 119 600 719 Data not 105 Latvia 4766 4766 available 106 Lebanon 41 2000 2041 Lesotho (Kingdom 107 1500 1500 3000 of) 108 Liberia 2 3000 3002 109 Libya 0 3000 3000 110 Liechtenstein 0 35 35 Data not 111 Lithuanaia 7227 7227 available 112 Luxembourg 813 4508 5321 113 Madagascar 15000 2500 17500 114 Malawi 6000 9000 15000 115 Malaysia 2750000 185000 2935000 15116 Maldives 140 30000 30140 117 Mali 13 600 613 118 Malta 250 18000 18250 119 Marshall Island 2 7 9 120 Mauritania 0 150 150 121 Mauritius 871140 26357 897497 122 Micronesia 0 35 35 123 Mexico 1500 6500 8000 124 Moldova 9 950 959 125 Monaco 43 10 53 126 Mongolia 11 92 103 127 Montserrat 200 15 215 128 Morocco 116 438 554 129 Mozambique 22000 3000 25000 130 Myanmar 23 354 377 131 Namibia 50 450 500 132 Nauru 0 20 20 133 Nepal 0 700000 700000 134 Netherlands 178000 55613 233613 135 New Zealand 143000 157000 300000 16136 Nicaragua 1 39 40 137 Niger 240 10 250 138 Nigeria 8 150 158 139 North Macedonia 52 43 95 140 Norway 12436 11593 24029 141 Oman 1754 660299 662053 142 Pakistan 0 0 0 143 Palau 0 29 29 144 Palestine 0 7 7 145 Panama 11000 4000 15000 Papua New 146 74 4000 4074 Guinea 147 Paraguay 200 400 600 148 Peru 154 346 500 149 Philippines 2570 67430 70000 150 Poland 1300 30000 31300 151 Portugal 13682 90000 103682 Data not 152 Qatar 8,30,491 8,30,491 available 153 Romania 362 10797 11159 17154 Russia 2742 70000 72742 155 Rwanda 5 3000 3005 Saint Kitts & 156 100 500 600 Nevis 157 Saint Lusia 18600 550 19150 Saint Vincent & 158 6600 50 6650 Grenadines 159 Samoa 50 0 50 160 San Marino 0 0 0 161 Sao Tome 0 32 32 162 Saudi Arabia 0 2747551 2747551 163 Senegal 5 35 40 164 Serbia 20 10000 10020 165 Seychelles 5093 8245 13338 166 Sierra Leone 30 4500 4530 167 Singapore 107180 350000 457180 168 Sint Maarten 3000 2170 5170 169 Slovak Republic 60 5940 6000 170 Slovenia 86 822 908 171 Solomon Islands 0 20 20 18172 Somolia 0 100 100 173 South Africa 1318431 74057 1392488 174 South Sudan 0 980 980 175 Spain 16635 51606 68241 176 Sri Lanka 1600000 7500 1607500 177 Sudan 55 85 140 178 Suriname 187700 1350 189050 179 Sweden 93180 22680 115860 180 Switzerland 9400 19,200 28,600 181 Syria 0 39 39 182 Taiwan 408 4641 5049 183 Tajikistan 0 400 400 184 Tanzania 40,000 15,000 55,000 185 Thailand 135179 30236 165415 Data not 186 Timor Leste 300 300 available 187 Togo 10 1300 1310 188 Tonga 50 5 55 Trinidad & 189 548286 1259 549545 Tobago 19190 Tunisia 9 80 89 191 Turkiye 386 3635 4021 192 Turkmenistan 4 105 109 Turks & Caicos 193 50 200 250 Islands 194 Tuvalu 20 0 20 195 Uganda 9000 30000 39000 196 Ukraine 739 1952 2691 197 UAE 6614 38,90,953 3897567 198 U.K. 970969 369000 1339969 199 U.S.A. 3775194 1918415 5693609 200 Uruguay 50 950 1000 201 Uzbekistan 61 16080 16141 202 Vanuatu 15 0 15 203 Venezuela 21 38 59 204 Vietnam 817 7200 8017 205 Yemen 420 700 1120 206 Zambia 5000 25000 30000 207 Zimbabwe 9000 1000 10000 Total 17181071 17175122 34356193 20ANNEXURE B List of ICCR’s Cultural Centres abroad Sl. No. Country City 1. Afghanistan Kabul 2. Australia Sydney 3. Bangladesh Dhaka 4. Bhutan Thimphu 5. Brazil Sao Paulo 6. China Beijing 7. Czech Republic Prague 8. Egypt Cairo 9. Fiji Suva 10. Germany Berlin 11. Guyana Georgetown 12. Hungary Budapest 13. Indonesia Bali* 14. Indonesia Jakarta* 15. Iran Tehran 2116. Israel Tel Aviv 17. Japan Tokyo 18. Kazakhstan Astana 19. Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 20. Maldives Male 21. Mauritius Port Louis 22. Mexico Mexico City 23. Myanmar Yangon 24. Nepal Kathmandu 25. Netherlands The Hague 26. Republic of Korea Seoul 27. Russia Moscow 28. South Africa Durban* 29. South Africa Johannesburg* 30. Sri Lanka Colombo 31. Suriname Paramaribo 32. Tajikistan Dushanbe 33. Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam 2234. Thailand Bangkok 35. Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain 36. United Kingdom London 37. Uzbekistan Tashkent 38. Vietnam Hanoi *Indonesia and South Africa have 2 Cultural Centres each. ***** 23