Lok Sabha Question No. 191 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Repatriation of Mortal Remains of Indian Nationals
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh, Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO- 191

## ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## REPATRIATION OF MORTAL REMAINS OF INDIAN NATIONALS

*191. SHRI HIBI EDEN

## DR. AMAR SINGH

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

- (a) whether Government has taken note of  the rising number of  cases involving deaths of  Indian citizens working or residing abroad including Saudi Arabia, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the procedure followed by Indian Missions for repatriation of  mortal remains to India;
- (c)   whether   the   Government   maintains   data   on   the   time   taken   for repatriation from different countries, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish a time-bound protocol to ensure faster repatriation through coordination between Indian Missions

abroad, distressed families and airlines, if so, the details thereof, if not the reasons therefor; (e)   the   major   challenges   faced   by   families   in   India,   including   high transportation   costs,   delays   in   documentation   and   lack   of   clear communication along with the steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and (f)   whether   embassies   have   adequate   staff,   coordination   systems   and emergency funds to support distressed families especially economically weaker families?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR  EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) to (F) OF THE LOK SABHA   STARRED   QUESTION   NO.   *191   FOR   REPLY   ON   12.12.2025 REGARDING REPATRIATION OF MORTAL REMAINS OF INDIAN NATIONALS ASKED BY SHRI HIBI EDEN AND DR. AMAR SINGH.

(a to f) The Government attaches high priority to addressing and resolving issues affecting Indian nationals abroad,  including cases of deaths, local cremation/burial and transportation of mortal remains to their hometowns in India. The total number of  cases involving deaths of  Indian citizens working or residing abroad has not witnessed any significant increase in recent times.  The year-wise list of  mortal remains of  Indian nationals transported to India since 2016 is placed at Annexure-I.

The Ministry has a well-established mechanism/SOPs to coordinate with all Missions and Posts abroad to provide help to Indian nationals abroad in cases of deaths or transportation of mortal remains to their home towns in India. Transportation of mortal remains of Indians who die abroad, involves completion   of   certain   formalities   as   per   the   local   laws   before   local authorities allow such body/bodies to be transported to India. In case the death is unnatural, police investigations will have to be completed. There

exists a well established mechanism in all Indian Missions and Posts to handle such cases with utmost priority. As soon as the information about the death of an Indian national comes to the knowledge of the concerned Indian Mission/Post abroad, they take proactive action by seeking a report from   the   local   Foreign   Office   and   other   concerned   local   authorities regarding the cause of the death of the Indian national. Our Missions and Posts abroad inform the next of kin of the deceased Indian national, and facilitate the transportation of mortal remains to India or the local burial of mortal   remains   in   accordance   with   the   wishes   of   the   family   of   the deceased.

Transportation   of   mortal   remains   of   Indians,   in   general   involves   the following steps:

i. The family has to nominate a person on their behalf to carry out all the formalities in foreign country, if  they are unable to come to the foreign country to take over the mortal remains. ii. The Authorized person/Employer/University Authority has to inform the Insurance Company (if any).

iii. The Authorized person/Employer/University Authority has to nominate a Transporter (in consultation with Insurance Company, if any).

iv.   A   copy of  the FIR has to be obtained from the Police authorities, if applicable.

v.   The   Transporter   has   to   complete   the   formalities   of   Embalming, Encoffining & Quarantine of the mortal remains as soon as possible.

vi. The Authorized person/Employer/University Authority/Transporter has to book an Air Ticket to India for transportation of the mortal remains.

vii.   The   authorized   person  needs to obtain the documents (FIR, if  any, Medical   Certificate/   Death   Certificate,   Original   Passport,   Embalming Certificate, Encoffining Certificate, Quarantine Certificate, Authority Letter by the family, List of belongings, Air Way Bill (copy or detailed information) and provide to Mission/Post for Cancellation of passport of the deceased and issue of "Death Certificate and NOC'.

viii.   The   family   also   needs   to   authorize   a   person   to   collect   the   mortal remains at the Indian Airport on their behalf, if required.

For transportation of  mortal remains, Indian Missions and Posts usually liaise with different authorities in the foreign country, viz., on the following aspects:

- i.   Medical report / death certificate issued from the hospital concerned;
- ii.   Police   report   (with   English   translation,   if   the   report   is   in   any   other

language), in case of accidental or unnatural death;

iii. Consent letter from the next of kin of the deceased for local cremation / burial / transportation of mortal remains;

iv.   Issuing   of   No   Objection   Certificate   (NOC)   by   the   Mission/Post   for transportation or local cremation / burial as required;

v. Clearance and arrangements for embalming of mortal remains from the authorities concerned in the foreign country;

vi. Clearance from local immigration/ customs department.

Time taken for repatriation of mortal remains varies with several factors including the cause of death, the country from where the mortal remains have to be transported, the distance of the country from India, domestic laws of the host country, employment status of the deceased, presence of next of kin in the country, among others. The procedures will accordingly differ from country to country depending on the regulations in the specific country. Therefore, no fixed time can be framed for eventual transportation of   the   mortal   remains   in   death   cases.   Generally,   the   transportation   of mortal remains is quicker in cases of natural deaths in comparison to the cases of unnatural deaths.

In normal circumstances, the initial processing in the host countries varies between 3 to 14 days in cases of natural deaths. Generally, delays occur in cases of unnatural deaths where legal and police investigations have to be completed by the local authorities. Delays also occur in cases where the nationality or identity of the deceased needs to be established. In some cases, DNA profiling has also been undertaken to identify the deceased. In some cases, the family   of   deceased   was   untraceable   or   unwilling   to provide   consent   for   transportation   of   mortal   remains   or   local   burial   / cremation leading to delays.

As soon as the authorised person provides relevant documents as per host country's requirement to Missions/Posts abroad, the death of the deceased person is registered and NOC for transportation of mortal remains to India is issued on priority basis, including on holidays. Additionally, 24x7 helpline in Missions and Posts abroad support death registration and transportation of mortal remains to India.

Missions   and   Posts   accord   high   priority   to   the   issues   pertaining   to transportation   of mortal   remains   including   completion   of local documentation work. Issues related to delays in issuance of police report, medical certificate, death certificate etc. by authorities of the host country

are taken up during bilateral meetings including Consular Dialogues and High Level Visits. Moreover, the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has also been set up in Indian Missions and Posts abroad for assisting overseas Indian nationals in distress situations on a means-tested basis which also includes   transportation   of   mortal   remains   of   Indian   nationals   at Government expenditure.

Every Indian   Mission   and   Post   abroad   has   a   dedicated   consular   wing equipped with adequate staff to address to the grievances of distressed Indian nationals abroad. Missions and Posts monitor the cases for timely and smooth documentation for transportation of mortal remains including guidance   to   the   family   and   coordination   between   different   agencies. Missions and Posts have also been allotted Emergency helpline number so that the families can contact them 24x7 in distressed condition.

## Annexure-I

| Year                |   Number of mortal remains of Indian nationals transported to India |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016                |                                                                4167 |
| 2017                |                                                                4222 |
| 2018                |                                                                4205 |
| 2019                |                                                                5291 |
| 2020                |                                                                5321 |
| 2021                |                                                                5834 |
| 2022                |                                                                5946 |
| 2023                |                                                                6532 |
| 2024                |                                                                7096 |
| 2025 (till October) |                                                                5897 |

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