Lok Sabha Question No. 29 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Renunciation of Indian Citizenship
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 29 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2023

## RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Indian citizens who have relinquished their citizenship during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of the countries whose citizenship has been adopted by persons who relinquished their Indian citizenship during this period;
- (c) whether the number of Indians giving up their citizenship is the highest it has ever been in twelve years, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether Indians giving up their citizenship is in line with India's rising global stature; and
- (e) whether the Government plans to adopt course correction measures to reduce the relinquishment of citizenship, if so, the details of these measures and the timeline of their implementation thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a to e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 29 FOR REPLY ON 21.07.2023 REGARDING RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indians who renounced their Indian citizenship was 85,256 (in 2020); 1,63,370 (in 2021); 2,25,620 (in 2022) and 87,026 (till June, 2023). For reference purposes, data was 1,22,819 (in 2011); 1,20,923 (in 2012); 1,31,405 (in 2013); 1,29,328 (in 2014); 1,31,489 (in 2015); 1,41,603 (in 2016); 1,33,049 (in 2017); 1,34,561 (in 2018); 1,44,017 (in 2019).

List of the countries whose citizenship Indians acquired during the reference period is placed at Annexure.

The number of Indian nationals exploring the global workplace has been significant in the last two decades. Many of them have chosen to take up foreign citizenship for reasons of personal convenience. The Government is cognizant of this development and has undertaken a range of initiatives centering around 'Make in India' that would harness   their   talents   at   home.  At   the   same   time,   to   take   full   advantage   of   the contemporary   knowledge   economy,   we   have   also   promoted   skills   and   startups. Recognizing that the Indian community abroad is an asset to the nation, Government has brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the diaspora. A successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora is an advantage for India, and our approach is to tap diaspora networks and utilize its reputation for national gain. The Government's   efforts   are   particularly   aimed   at   encouraging   the   exchanges   of knowledge and expertise in a manner that would contribute to India's national development.

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List of countries whose citizenship was acquired by Indians

## Annexure

|   S.No. | Country             |   S.No. | Country     |   S.No. | Country             |
|---------|---------------------|---------|-------------|---------|---------------------|
|       1 | Albania             |      46 | Ghana       |      91 | Panama              |
|       2 | Algeria             |      47 | Greece      |      92 | Papua New Guinea    |
|       3 | Andorra             |      48 | Grenada     |      93 | Paraguay            |
|       4 | Angola              |      49 | Guatemala   |      94 | Peru                |
|       5 | Antigua &Barbuda    |      50 | Guyana      |      95 | Philippines         |
|       6 | Argentina           |      51 | Hungary     |      96 | Poland              |
|       7 | Armenia             |      52 | Iceland     |      97 | Portugal            |
|       8 | Australia           |      53 | Indonesia   |      98 | Qatar               |
|       9 | Austria             |      54 | Iran        |      99 | Republic of Ireland |
|      10 | Azerbaijan          |      55 | Iraq        |     100 | Romania             |
|      11 | Bahamas             |      56 | Israel      |     101 | Russia              |
|      12 | Bahrain             |      57 | Italy       |     102 | Saint Kitts &Nevis  |
|      13 | Bangladesh          |      58 | Jamaica     |     103 | Saudi Arabia        |
|      14 | Belarus             |      59 | Japan       |     104 | Serbia              |
|      15 | Belgium             |      60 | Jordan      |     105 | Seychelles          |
|      16 | Belize              |      61 | Kazakhstan  |     106 | Singapore           |
|      17 | Bolivia             |      62 | Kenya       |     107 | Slovakia            |
|      18 | Bosnia& Herzegovina |      63 | Kuwait      |     108 | Slovenia            |
|      19 | Botswana            |      64 | Kyrgyzstan  |     109 | South Africa        |
|      20 | Brazil              |      65 | Laos        |     110 | South Korea         |
|      21 | Brunei              |      66 | Latvia      |     111 | Spain               |
|      22 | Bulgaria            |      67 | Lithuania   |     112 | Sri Lanka           |
|      23 | Cambodia            |      68 | Luxembourg  |     113 | St. Lucia           |
|      24 | Canada              |      69 | Madagascar  |     114 | Sudan               |
|      25 | Chile               |      70 | Malawi      |     115 | Suriname            |
|      26 | China               |      71 | Malaysia    |     116 | Swaziland           |
|      27 | Colombia            |      72 | Maldives    |     117 | Sweden              |
|      28 | Comoros             |      73 | Mali        |     118 | Switzerland         |
|      29 | Costa Rica          |      74 | Malta       |     119 | Tanzania            |
|      30 | Croatia             |      75 | Mauritius   |     120 | Thailand            |
|      31 | Cyprus              |      76 | Mexico      |     121 | Tonga               |
|      32 | Czech Republic      |      77 | Moldova     |     122 | Trinidad and Tobago |
|      33 | Denmark             |      78 | Mongolia    |     123 | Turkey              |
|      34 | Dominica            |      79 | Morocco     |     124 | UAE                 |
|      35 | Dominican Republic  |      80 | Mozambique  |     125 | Uganda              |
|      36 | Ecuador             |      81 | Myanmar     |     126 | Ukraine             |
|      37 | Egypt               |      82 | Namibia     |     127 | UK                  |
|      38 | Estonia             |      83 | Nepal       |     128 | USA                 |
|      39 | Ethiopia            |      84 | Netherland  |     129 | Uruguay             |
|      40 | Fiji                |      85 | New Zealand |     130 | Vanuatu             |

3

|   41 | Finland   |   86 | Nigeria         |   131 | Vatican   |
|------|-----------|------|-----------------|-------|-----------|
|   42 | France    |   87 | North Macedonia |   132 | Vietnam   |
|   43 | Gabon     |   88 | Norway          |   133 | Yemen     |
|   44 | Georgia   |   89 | Oman            |   134 | Zambia    |
|   45 | Germany   |   90 | Pakistan        |   135 | Zimbabwe  |

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