Lok Sabha Question No. 489 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: National Crisis Management Protocol for Overseas Indians
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 489

## ANSWERED ON 27/03/2026

## NATIONAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL FOR OVERSEAS INDIANS

†*489. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the details of the comprehensive lessons from the Vande Bharat Mission   and   Operation   Ganga   integrated   into   the   new   National Crisis Management Protocol for overseas Indians;

(b) the number of Indian nationals safely evacuated under Operation Ajay, Operation Kaveri and Operation Indravati since 2023;

(c) the status of the 'MEA in Aid of Diaspora in Distress' (MADAD) and eMigrate portals in providing real-time grievance redressal for Indian migrant workers in West Asian countries; and

(d) whether the Government has established a dedicated "Rapid Response Cell" to monitor geopolitical instabilities affecting the Indian diaspora, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *489 BY SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO AND   SHRI   KHAGEN   MURMU   ANSWERED   IN   LOK   SABHA   ON 27.03.2026 REGARDING   NATIONAL   CRISIS   MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL FOR OVERSEAS INDIANS

(a   to   d)   The   Government   closely   monitors   emerging   adverse situations abroad and issues advisories, as required, to caution Indian   nationals   to   avoid   unnecessary   travel,   follow   safety guidelines issued by local authorities and remain in touch with Indian Missions. Various communication mechanisms are in place for Indian nationals to reach Indian Missions/Posts, including email, multilingual   24x7   emergency   numbers,   social   media,   toll-free helplines & WhatsApp numbers. Several of these protocols were implemented   during   the   implementation   of   the   Vande   Bharat Mission and Operation Ganga. The Ministry is also developing a digital emergency response solution for stranded Indian nationals to   register   with   basic   and   real-time   information   to   facilitate planning for their evacuation or movement during a crisis.

Government evacuated 5287 Indian nationals under Operation Ajay,

Operation Kaveri and Operation Indravati. Operation-wise data of evacuated Indian nationals is attached at Annexure-I. To address the consular issues related to repatriation, employment disputes,   detention,   transportation   of   mortal   remains,   marital disputes, imprisonment cases, student issues and other distress situation faced by the overseas Indians, Government launched a centralized digital platform 'MADAD' in February 2015. Since then, the   portal   has   emerged   as   a   key   instrument   for   extending assistance and addressing the concerns of overseas Indians on a real-time basis by allowing them to register and track grievances. All Indian Missions/Posts abroad and the MEA's Branch Secretariats in   Chennai,   Guwahati,   Hyderabad,   Kolkata   and   Mumbai   are integrated with the portal, which is regularly monitored at various levels. The portal has received over 1 lakh grievances from February 2015 to February 2026 and resolved approximately 97% of them.

Similarly, Ministry's eMigrate portal, primarily for processing and monitoring the emigration of ECR passport category Indian workers to   ECR   countries   for   employment   purposes,   also   facilitates

registration of grievances/complaints of Indian workers.  As soon as any grievance relating to the welfare of Indian workers, including request   for   repatriation   and   evacuation,   etc.,   is   registered   on eMigrate portal, the same is immediately transferred to the MADAD portal of the Mission/Post concerned for real-time redressal. In case of emergency situation requiring verification of any emigrant worker who went abroad after obtaining Emigration Clearance (EC) through eMigrate, the same is addressed through eMigrate Portal. With a view to swiftly responding to crisis situations  faced  by overseas   Indian   nationals,   the   Ministry   established   a   dedicated wing   named   the   'Rapid   Response   Cell   (RRC)'   in   2021.   RRC undertakes Ministry's evacuation and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations abroad. The wing coordinates with all   agencies,   services   and   Ministries,   following   a   whole-ofgovernment   approach   and   enabling   seamless   inter-Ministerial coordination for operational integration and successful planning and execution of evacuation operations.

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## Annexure-I

## Operation wise data of the evacuated Indian nationals

| Year                                   | Country & Name of the Operation                                |   Total number of people evacuated (including foreign nationals) |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sudan                                  | 4,097 (including 136 foreign nationals)                        |                                                             2023 |
| Operation Kaveri Israel Operation Ajay | 1,343 (including 14 OCI card holders and 20 foreign nationals) |                                                             2023 |
| Haiti Operation Indravati              | 17                                                             |                                                             2024 |

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