The Indian Diaspora
UPSC notes on the Indian diaspora — NRI, PIO and OCI categories, waves of migration from indenture to IT, remittances, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, evacuations and policy issues.
SyllabusGS II · Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests; Indian diaspora
India has the largest diaspora in the world — the largest country of origin of international migrants in the UN’s International Migrant Stock 2020. The diaspora is a source of remittances, investment, skills and goodwill, and also a responsibility: when war or a pandemic strikes, the Indian state is expected to bring its people home.
What UPSC asks
- Prelims: NRI vs PIO vs OCI; the rights an OCI cardholder does and does not have; Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and why it is held on 9 January; evacuation operations and their countries; ECR countries and the eMigrate system.
- Mains: the diaspora as a strategic asset and as soft power; the welfare of low-skilled workers in the Gulf; the effect of host-country policies on Indians abroad; whether India should allow dual citizenship.
Key sub-topics
| Sub-topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Categories | NRI, PIO, OCI — and the 2015 merger of PIO into OCI |
| History | Trade diaspora, indenture (1834–1917), post-war and Gulf migration, the skilled diaspora |
| Institutions | MEA (Overseas Indian Affairs merged in 2015), PBD, ICWF, Know India Programme |
| Protection | Emigration Act 1983, ECR passports, eMigrate, evacuation operations |
| Economics | Remittances, investment, knowledge networks |
Main topic: The Indian Diaspora: Categories, History and Policy. Pair it with Effect of Policies of Other Countries on India, since host-country visa and labour rules shape diaspora lives.