Lok Sabha Question No. 2460 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Check on Illegal Immigration Rackets
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Anand Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2460

## ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026

CHECK ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RACKETS

†2460. DR ANAND KUMAR

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of illegal emigration rackets operating in the country which fraudulently send Indian citizens abroad causing them financial losses and also damage the country's international image;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government so far to check such rackets and take strict action against them;

(c) the details of the progress made on the action taken and the results achieved so far in this regard; and

(d) the details of additional measures proposed by the Government to effectively check illegal emigration rackets in future?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to d)   Government has been made aware of instances where dubious entities involved in fake recruitment job offers have  lured Indian nationals mostly through social media channels for overseas employment to various countries.   Ministry comes to know about such fraudulent activities of illegal/unscrupulous recruitment agents in the country as and when a complaint is filed by the aggrieved emigrants or their relatives/friends/family members who have been cheated, as these Indian nationals proceed abroad on their own volition   through   fraudulent/unscrupulous   recruitment   agents   and through illegal channels.

As per Section 10 of the Emigration Act, 1983, no person/agency can function   as   Recruiting   Agent   (RA)   without   a   valid   Registration Certificate (RC) issued by the Registering Authority, i.e., Protector General   of   Emigrants   (PGE).   As   and   when   complaints   of   illegal migration/human trafficking are received, such matters are referred to   the   State   police   for   investigation   and   prosecution   under   the

relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislations in place.

Ministry   issues   advisories   through   eMigrate   portal,   social   media handles, and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent the same. Till January 2026, a list of 3,505   unregistered   agents,   against   whom   grievances   have   been received, has been published on the eMigrate portal to caution the prospective emigrants. The awareness campaign on safe and legal migration   through   eMigrate   portal   has   been   carried   out   by   the Ministry   across   the   country   by   conducting   workshops,   trainings, information sessions, digital campaigns for media groups, police officials   and   law   enforcement   agencies,   local   administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public. During these   sessions   awareness   on   emigration   regulations,   schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure   Orientation   Training   (PDOT),   eMigrate   portal   and various advisories issued by Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders.

The Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) in the Ministry of External Affairs   through   16   Protector   of   Emigrants   (PoEs)   across   India, regularly coordinates with the State Governments regarding issues of illegal recruiting agencies and the ways to address challenges related   to   enforcement   of   emigration   rules   and   regulations.   The Ministry regularly organises such outreach programs to sensitise various stakeholders about the benefits of safe and legal migration and   suggests   ways   to   prevent   illegal   migration   through fake/unregistered recruitment agencies. In addition to the regular information   sharing   on   unregistered   recruiting   agencies,   regular meetings   with   the   State   level   Nodal   Officer   are   held.   Further, workshops & training sessions are held by the Ministry for the law enforcement   agencies   of   the   State   Governments   in   which information   on   the   Standard   Operating   Procedures   (SOP)   of   the Ministry on handling complaints relating to overseas employment, is shared with the participants.

*****