Indian Diaspora
Geography › Human Geography and Population · Topic 17.9
The Indian diaspora is the community of about 35 million people of Indian origin and Indian citizens living abroad, the largest diaspora in the world. It includes non-resident Indians, who hold Indian passports, and persons of Indian origin who are citizens of other countries, with Overseas Citizens of India as a special status. It grew through indenture, trade, the Gulf boom and skilled migration, and sends the largest remittances in the world.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Human Geography and Population
At a Glance
- Size About 35.4 million (MEA, November 2024)
- Top host countries United States, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia
- Categories NRI, PIO, OCI
- Remittances About 129 billion US dollars in 2024
- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 9 January
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Human Geography and Population
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic of the macro on human geography and population. The previous topic examined the consequences of migration within and across borders, and this one looks at the community that emigration created. The next macro begins the study of settlements, human development and planning. Previous topic: Consequences of Migration. Next topic: Classification and Patterns of Settlements.
How Did the Indian Diaspora Develop?
In short: Indians went abroad in four main waves, as indentured labourers, as traders, as Gulf workers, and as skilled professionals.
| Wave | Period and cause | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Indenture and kangani systems | After the abolition of slavery in 1833-34, British colonies needed plantation labour; Indians went under contracts from about 1834 until 1920; the descendants are called girmitiyas, from “agreement” | Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, South Africa, Réunion; also Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Myanmar under the kangani or maistry system |
| Traders and professionals | Colonial period; merchants, clerks, soldiers and police followed the British trade routes | East Africa, Southeast Asia, Aden and the Caribbean |
| Gulf migration | From the 1970s, after the oil boom; mostly temporary contract labour and service workers, from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain |
| Skilled and student migration | From the 1960s, doctors, engineers, scientists and, since the 1990s, information technology professionals and students | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore |
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there were about 35.4 million overseas Indians in November 2024, with the largest numbers in the United States (about 5.4 million), the United Arab Emirates (about 3.6 million) and Malaysia (about 2.9 million). Indians form a majority or a large share of the population in Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, and Gulf countries have the largest numbers of workers who are not citizens.
What Are the Categories and Government Policy?
- Non-Resident Indian (NRI): an Indian citizen who lives abroad for work, study or other reasons, holding an Indian passport.
- Person of Indian Origin (PIO): a foreign citizen of Indian ancestry. The PIO card scheme was merged with the Overseas Citizen of India scheme in 2015.
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI): a lifelong visa-free status, with some economic and educational rights but no vote and no right to hold public office. India does not allow dual citizenship.
- Institutions and events: the Ministry of External Affairs handles diaspora affairs, after the separate ministry for overseas Indian affairs was merged into it in 2016; Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on 9 January, the day Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, since 2003 and every two years since 2015; and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
- Protection of workers: the Emigration Act of 1983 regulates recruitment for low-skilled workers in the Emigration Check Required category, the e-Migrate system and the Madad portal help with grievances, and the Indian Community Welfare Fund helps those in distress. India has also evacuated its citizens from conflict zones through missions such as Vande Bharat in 2020, Operation Ganga from Ukraine in 2022 and Operation Kaveri from Sudan in 2023.
Why Does the Diaspora Matter, and What Are Its Challenges?
The diaspora is a source of money, skills and influence. Remittances reached about 129 billion US dollars in 2024, the largest for any country, as in Consequences of Migration. Diaspora entrepreneurs, such as those in the information technology sector in the United States, invest and create links with India, and the community supports India’s soft power, culture, food and festivals, and provides a bridge for diplomacy with the countries in which they live. Indian-origin leaders hold high offices in several countries.
The challenges are many. In the Gulf, the kafala sponsorship system ties workers to employers, and cases of wage theft, poor conditions and deaths occur. Changes in the immigration and visa rules of the host countries, such as limits on skilled worker visas or student numbers, and in the local labour markets, directly affect Indians. Geopolitical conflicts require evacuation. Some countries have seen social tension or discrimination, and the second and third generations are integrating with their host societies, which raises the question of what ties they have with India. As an analytical point, the diaspora has moved from being seen as a loss, the brain drain, to a strategic asset, and the question now is how to build a lasting two-way relationship through investment, research partnerships and mobility agreements, while ensuring the protection of its most vulnerable members, the low-wage workers, as in Migration – Streams and Causes.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Waves and categories asked
- Foreign policy Soft power and welfare
- Economy Remittances
What Came Next?
The next macro begins the study of settlements, human development and planning, starting with the classification and patterns of settlements. Next topic: Classification and Patterns of Settlements.
Key People and Terms
- NRI Indian citizen living abroad
- PIO Foreign citizen of Indian origin
- OCI Overseas Citizen of India
- Girmitiya Indentured labourer
- Kafala Gulf sponsorship system
- ECR Emigration Check Required category
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- About 35 million overseas Indians.
- Girmitiyas were indentured labourers.
- PIO merged with OCI in 2015.
- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is on 9 January.
- Remittances: the largest in the world.
Do Not Confuse With
- NRI and PIO Indian citizen versus foreign citizen of Indian origin
- OCI and dual citizenship Special status versus citizenship
- Indenture and kangani Colonial labour systems for different destinations
Memory Hook
Girmit first, Gulf next, geeks last; NRI holds the passport, OCI gets the card.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for the role of the diaspora and the issues it faces. These points add depth.
- History Four waves
- Gains Remittances and soft power
- Concerns Worker protection and visa risk
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the phases of Indian emigration and discuss the importance of the Indian diaspora and the challenges faced by overseas Indian workers.”
How to Answer
- Waves Indenture to IT.
- Categories NRI, PIO, OCI.
- Importance Remittances and influence.
- Challenges Gulf workers and visa shocks.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is the Indian diaspora?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there were about 35.4 million overseas Indians in November 2024, the largest diaspora in the world. The United States, with about 5.4 million, the United Arab Emirates, with about 3.6 million, and Malaysia, with about 2.9 million, host the largest numbers.
What is the difference between NRI, PIO and OCI?
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen living abroad, while a Person of Indian Origin is a foreign citizen with Indian ancestry. The PIO scheme was merged with the Overseas Citizen of India scheme in 2015, which gives lifelong visa-free entry and certain rights, but not the right to vote or hold public office.
Who were the girmitiyas?
The girmitiyas were Indian indentured labourers taken under agreements, or girmit, to work on plantations in colonies such as Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Guyana and South Africa, from about 1834 to 1920, after slavery was abolished. Their descendants form a large part of the population of these countries.
When is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrated?
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on 9 January, the day in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. It has been observed since 2003 to recognise the contribution of the diaspora, and has been held every two years since 2015, together with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
Why is the Indian diaspora important for India?
The Indian diaspora is important as a source of remittances, which were about 129 billion dollars in 2024, the largest in the world, and of investment, skills and technology. It also strengthens India's soft power and influence in the countries where it lives, and provides a bridge to their governments and markets.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The PIO card scheme was merged with the OCI scheme.
The merger happened in 2015.
2 Overseas Citizens of India have the right to vote in Indian elections.
They do not have voting rights.
3 Girmitiyas were indentured labourers in the colonial period.
They went to plantations abroad.
4 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas commemorates Gandhi's return from South Africa.
The date is 9 January 1915.
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