Introduction:

Indians have migrated to various parts of the globe for thousands of years. The diaspora culture is the result of hundreds of years of migration spurred by mercantilism, colonialism, and globalisation, among other factors. Indian diaspora members can be found in every part of the globe. 

According to the United Nations’ International Migrant Stock 2019, from 15.9 million in 2015 to 17.5 million in 2019, the Indian diaspora has grown by 10%, making it the world’s largest.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States, followed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Oman, are the most popular destinations for Indian migrants, according to the data. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the diaspora’s fortunes have been uneven, prompting the government to launch its largest rescue operation, the ‘Vande Bharat Mission.’

Phases of Diaspora spread:

• Indians had spread to Africa, Southeast Asia, Fiji, and the Caribbean in the first phase. The massive need for inexpensive labour that arose immediately after the British abolished slavery in 1833-1834 fueled this surge
• Those who left India and relocated to other countries before colonial rule are known as members of the old diaspora. Many of them became indentured servants known as Girmatiyas They were taken to a variety of countries, including Sri Lanka, the Fiji Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, and Mauritius
• Following the oil boom, the character of migration began to evolve in the second half of the twentieth century, with the modern diaspora driven by highly skilled professionals travelling to the western world and semi-qualified contract labourers moving to the Gulf, West, and Southeast Asia
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) make up the Diaspora
• NRIs are Indian nationals who are still citizens of India but spend more than 180 days a year outside the country. These people have kept their passports and are still considered Indian nationals. Individuals who spend more than 180 days or more outside the country in a year are not taxed, according to Income Tax laws

Overseas Indian Citizens (OCI):

• The Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) established a High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora in September 2000, chaired by L.M. Singhvi. The Committee’s mission was to conduct a detailed study of the global Indian Diaspora and give recommendations for improving relations with them. In January 2002, the committee submitted its report. It proposed that the Citizenship Act of 1955 be amended to allow persons of Indian origin (PIOs) from specific countries to be granted dual citizenship
• As a result, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 provided for the acquisition of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). Until 2015, Persons of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizens of India were two separate categories of persons. In 2015, the government changed the Citizenship Act to combine these two categories
• Individuals who have given up their Indian citizenship and adopted the citizenship of another country are known as Overseas Citizens of India
• Holders of the OCI card, which is granted by all Indian diplomatic facilities around the world, are allowed unlimited travel to India without a visa under the 2015 Amendment. They can visit India as many times as they want and stay for as long as they want without needing a visa

Holders of an Overseas Citizen of India Card have the following rights:

• A cardholder who is a foreign national of India is entitled to the privileges that the Central Government may designate in this regard
• Multiple entrance lifetime visa for any purpose in India (However, OCI Cardholders will need specific permission to do research in India, for which they can apply to the Indian Mission/ Post/ FRRO concerned)
• For any length of stay in India, there is no need to register with a Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or a Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO)
• Except in circumstances relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation holdings, parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in all economic, financial, and educational facilities available to them
• India’s Registered Overseas Citizen In the case of intercountry adoption of Indian children, cardholders will be treated equally to non-resident Indians
• India’s Registered Overseas Citizen in terms of flying fares in India’s internal sectors, cardholders will be regarded equally to resident Indian residents
• India’s Registered Overseas Citizen when visiting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India, cardholders will be charged the same entry cost as domestic Indian visitors

Contributions of the Indian Diaspora:

• Economic Growth: The Indian diaspora is a major source of remittances, which has helped to balance the country’s current account. As of 2021, the Indian diaspora sends almost US$ 87 billion in remittances. According to the World Bank, in the next few years, the Indian diaspora will be the world’s greatest recipient of remittances
• Commerce and Investment: The Indian diaspora has become a major source of trade and investment in India. The Reserve Bank of India has published a circular declaring that investments made by Indian diaspora members will be recognised as domestic rather than international investments
• Business: Many diaspora members have started successful enterprises and have gone on to become top-ranking CEOs of global technology companies. Some successful examples are Arcelor Steel’s Lakshmi Mittal, Google’s Sundar Pichai, MasterCard’s Ajay Banga, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, PepsiCo’s Indira Nooyi, and Air Asia’s Tony Fernandez
• Soft Power: The Indian diaspora plays a significant influence in India’s bilateral ties and is an integral aspect of India’s “soft diplomacy.” For example, the role of the Indian diaspora in the development of the Indo-US nuclear pact
• Science, technology, and knowledge-based industries: Knowledge-based industries, such as information technology, science, research, and development, have a large pool of highly educated specialists and scientists. They could play a key role in establishing India as a research and development centre
• Education and Culture: Education and culture are the other two areas in which the Indian Diaspora policy can help to improve relationships between India and the nations where it lives. They have the potential to play a significant role in the country’s educational reform and the construction of world-class institutions. For example, the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad is an excellent example of the Diaspora’s influence in the development of management education

Issues and Challenges Faced by the Diaspora:

• In terms of economics, many Indians are concerned about losing their jobs as globalisation is threatened all over the world. For more than a decade, countries such as the United States have restricted H1B visas. During Trump’s presidency, this has been reinforced. Other visa categories have also been restricted
• Kuwait has recently made the decision to restrict foreigners’ admission, including Indians, and other GCC nations are anticipated to follow suit
• Ordinances such as Saudi Arabia’s Nitaqat, which resulted in the nationalisation of the labour force, have also resulted in the loss of work prospects for Indian nationals. Many people, particularly those from Kerala, have suffered as a result of this. The epidemic of COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation
• Furthermore, India is unable to progress with many trade agreements since it has insisted on liberal visa policies for its countries. Visa regimes that are liberal are in line with the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS). This was highlighted when India was negotiating FTAs with the United Kingdom, the European Union, ASEAN, and Australia, among other countries
• Another big concern is racial prejudice in neighbouring countries. Many Indian citizens have died as a result of racist attacks perpetrated by the United States. In the United States and Europe, members of the Sikh community have been harassed
• Discrimination in housing has been a problem in Singapore and Malaysia
• Dual citizenship is a problem because the majority of Indian diaspora people desire to keep their Indian citizenship as well as their citizenship in their new nation

Government Initiatives:

• Various programmes for the welfare of the diaspora have been initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs and other ministries. This includes the following:
• E-Migrate system: This is a website where any employers who want to hire Indian citizens can register
• Madad Portal: Any citizen in a foreign country can use this portal to register and request assistance from the nearest diplomatic mission
• Every two years, the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas are held. A discussion of issues affecting the Indian Diaspora is also held, as well as the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
• The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as the Ministry of External Affairs, just unveiled the SWADES Portal. This is to make it easier for people who have lost their jobs abroad due to the COVID-19 outbreak to find work and develop their skills
• The Know India Program was a Youth Diaspora initiative to promote understanding of the various aspects of life in India as well as the country’s progress in various fields. It offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students and young professionals of Indian descent to travel to India, discuss their perspectives, aspirations, and experiences, and strengthen relationships with modern India
• Another skill development initiative, Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana, was introduced by the Union Entrepreneurship and Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Skill Development to teach people who want to work overseas
• The Indian government has also decided to cancel the passports of spouses who abuse their partners and have criminal complaints filed against them. These individuals will be forced to return to India to face criminal proceedings if their passports are revoked

Conclusion:

Overseas Indians can serve as unofficial ambassadors for the United States. Over the last two decades, India’s foreign population has evolved into a vibrant and self-assured diaspora of over 25 million people, giving India a global presence.In a spirit of mutual curiosity, India and its diaspora may benefit each other. The Indian diaspora is a tangle of different coloured strands with different shapes and textures, each with its own set of wants and expectations.