Lok Sabha Question No. 196 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Role of Indian Embassies  Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## 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?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

## (a) To (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT 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,

financial, 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

24x7 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.

Our 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

decent 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

promote 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.

## Data on Indian Diaspora Abroad

## (as of January 2025)

|   S.No. | Country/Territory   |   PIOs |   NRIs |   Total Overseas 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 |
|       6 | Antingua & Barbuda  |    200 |    300 |                      500 |
|       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 |

## ANNEXURE- A

|   15 | 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     |
|   23 | Bonaire & Smaller Islands |    12 |     54 | 66     |
|   24 | Bosnia and Herzegovina    |     7 |     20 | 27     |
|   25 | Botswana                  |  3000 |   9500 | 12500  |
|   26 | Brazil                    |   863 |   2460 | 3323   |
|   27 | British Virgin Islands    |    20 |     80 | 100    |
|   28 | Brunei Darussalam         |   240 |  14500 | 14740  |
|   29 | Bulgaria                  |  1077 |    949 | 2026   |
|   30 | Burkina Faso              |   350 |    150 | 500    |

|   31 | 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 |
|   37 | Central African Republic    |       0 |      70 |      70 |
|   38 | Chad                        |       0 |     250 |     250 |
|   39 | Chile                       |    2100 |    2000 |    4100 |
|   40 | China                       |   59787 |   43683 |  103470 |
|   41 | Colombia                    |     252 |     758 |    1010 |
|   42 | Commonwealth of Dominica    |     500 |      40 |     540 |
|   43 | Comoros                     |     200 |      20 |     220 |
|   44 | Congo (Democratic Republic) |    5000 |   30000 |   35000 |
|   45 | Republic of Congo           |       0 |     875 |     875 |

|   46 | 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  |
|   56 | Dominica Republic |    2 |    75 | 77    |
|   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 |

|   65 | Fiji                    |   313818 |   2290 |   316108 |
|------|-------------------------|----------|--------|----------|
|   66 | Finland                 |    15989 |  13068 |    29057 |
|   67 | France                  |    90000 |  29000 |   119000 |
|   68 | France (Reunion Island) |   300000 |    159 |   300159 |
|   69 | France (Guadeloupe)     |    57000 |    180 |    57180 |
|   70 | France (Martinique)     |     8000 |     90 |     8090 |
|   71 | France (St. Martin)     |     1800 |    150 |     1950 |
|   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 | Guinea (Republic        |       51 |   1390 |     1441 |

|    | of)           |                    |        |         |
|----|---------------|--------------------|--------|---------|
| 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 |
| 93 | Italy         | Data not available | 170880 | 170880  |
| 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  |

|   99 | 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       |
|  105 | Latvia               | Data not available | 4766      | 4766      |
|  106 | Lebanon              | 41                 | 2000      | 2041      |
|  107 | Lesotho (Kingdom of) | 1500               | 1500      | 3000      |
|  108 | Liberia              | 2                  | 3000      | 3002      |
|  109 | Libya                | 0                  | 3000      | 3000      |
|  110 | Liechtenstein        | 0                  | 35        | 35        |
|  111 | Lithuanaia           | Data not available | 7227      | 7227      |
|  112 | Luxembourg           | 813                | 4508      | 5321      |
|  113 | Madagascar           | 15000              | 2500      | 17500     |
|  114 | Malawi               | 6000               | 9000      | 15000     |
|  115 | Malaysia             | 2750000            | 185000    | 2935000   |

|   116 | 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 |

|   136 | 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    |
|   146 | Papua New Guinea | 74                 | 4000     | 4074     |
|   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   |
|   152 | Qatar            | Data not available | 8,30,491 | 8,30,491 |
|   153 | Romania          | 362                | 10797    | 11159    |

|   154 | Russia                     |   2742 |   70000 |   72742 |
|-------|----------------------------|--------|---------|---------|
|   155 | Rwanda                     |      5 |    3000 |    3005 |
|   156 | Saint Kitts & Nevis        |    100 |     500 |     600 |
|   157 | Saint Lusia                |  18600 |     550 |   19150 |
|   158 | Saint Vincent & Grenadines |   6600 |      50 |    6650 |
|   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 |

|   172 | 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  |
|   186 | Timor Leste       | 300     | Data not available | 300     |
|   187 | Togo              | 10      | 1300               | 1310    |
|   188 | Tonga             | 50      | 5                  | 55      |
|   189 | Trinidad & Tobago | 548286  | 1259               | 549545  |

| 190   | Tunisia                |        9 | 80        |       89 |
|-------|------------------------|----------|-----------|----------|
| 191   | Turkiye                |      386 | 3635      |     4021 |
| 192   | Turkmenistan           |        4 | 105       |      109 |
| 193   | Turks & Caicos Islands |       50 | 200       |      250 |
| 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 | Total                  | 17181071 | 17175122  | 34356193 |

## 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     |

## ANNEXURE B

| 16.               | Israel        | Tel Aviv      |
|-------------------|---------------|---------------|
| 17. Japan         | Tokyo         |               |
| Kazakhstan        | Astana        | 18.           |
| Malaysia          | Kuala Lumpur  | 19.           |
| Maldives          | Male          | 20.           |
| Mauritius         | Port Louis    | 21.           |
| Mexico            | Mexico City   | 22.           |
| Myanmar           | Yangon        | 23.           |
| Nepal             | Kathmandu     | 24.           |
| Netherlands       | The Hague     | 25.           |
| Republic of Korea | Seoul         | 26.           |
| Russia            | Moscow        | 27.           |
| South Africa      | Durban*       | 28.           |
| South Africa      | Johannesburg* | 29.           |
| 30. Sri Lanka     | Colombo       |               |
| Suriname          | Paramaribo    | 31.           |
| 32. Tajikistan    | Dushanbe      |               |
| 33. Tanzania      |               | Dar-es-Salaam |

|   34. | 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.

*****