Diasperein. Diasperien means dispersion. Hence Diaspora is the dispersed people from India. Indian Diaspora = NRI + OCI (Prior to 2015, it was NRI + PIO + OCI. PIO merged into OCI in 2015)

SIGNIFICANCE

  • ECONOMIC:
    • Remittances to India: India receives more than 85 bn USD annually as remittances & it is predicted to be around 100 bn USD in 2022.
    • Flow of business ideas, tacit information & technology into India.
    • Migration of less skilled labour from India creates a reduced pressure in India for employment generation.
  • POLITICAL:
    • Indians hold critical positions of power in many countries like USA, Mauritius, UK
    • The diaspora has an immense potential to influence the electoral results of their host countries.
    • The NRI & OCI is a potential lobby for India.
  • CULTURAL:
    • Presence of diaspora has led to spread of Indian culture & inter racial marital ties thus contributing in the soft power of India.

CHALLENGES

  • Heterogeneous nature of the Indian diaspora.
    • West Asia needs support on welfare issues.
    • From the west, we need increased investment & trade.
  • Racial Discrimination.
  • Nature of jobs ie in West Asia most of our diaspora is involved in blue collared jobs.
  • Connection with Anti - India or separatists.
WHERE IS INDIAN DIASPORA SETTLING? A total of 1,63,370 Indians relinquished Indian Citizenship in 2021 and received citizenship from other countries, a trend noted highest since 2019. According to the government data, over 3.9 lakh citizens have given up their citizenship in the past 3 years to settle abroad. The data mentions that there are 103 countries where Indians relinquished Indian citizenship.

WHERE ARE INDIANS SETTLING ABROAD?