NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said more and more Indians are giving up their citizenship. According to the ministry, more than 200,000 citizens have surrendered their Indian passports in the last two years. In 2023, 216,219 people renounced Indian citizenship, after 225,620 in 2022. The trend had gained momentum over the last ten years, with figures of over 100,000 per year since 2011.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh furnished the data while replying to a Lok Sabha question on December 12. Singh said though the Ministry tracks the overall number of citizenship renunciations, it does not maintain state-wise data in detail. But the report carried a list of countries where former Indian nationals had taken new citizenships though there was no year-wise or state-wise break up of the data.
The total number of Indian citizens renouncing their citizenship in 2021 reached 163,370 while in 2020 and 2019, respectively, the figures were 85,256 and 144,017. A steady rise in the previous years suggests that Indians, as a whole, prefer to emigrate to places that are more attractive compared to the country of citizenship, which offers better prospects for employment, education, and living standards. Since 2011, according to the ministry records, Indians have given up their citizenship in more than 100,000 cases annually. The number stands at 122,819 cases in that year.
Reasons for renunciation of citizenship were not well documented by the authorities but are mostly termed as a personal choice. Some possible reasons could be better opportunities abroad, restrictions on holding dual citizenship in India, and even lifestyle choices might contribute to the decision of renouncing Indian nationality.
Despite the rising numbers, the Indian government maintains a positive stance toward its diaspora. “The Government recognises the potential of the global workplace in an era of knowledge economy. It has also brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the Indian diaspora,” the Ministry said while responding to the parliamentary inquiry.
India does not support dual citizenship, which means that persons opting for foreign citizenship must give up their Indian nationality. However, the government is making amends by developing programs for the diaspora, like the OCI card that accords privileges, such as visa-free entry and right to stay in India to former citizens.
As renunciations continue to increase, the Indian government continues to strengthen its relationship with its diaspora abroad and focuses on their role in the development of the country and its international outreach.
This report is based on data supplied by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and statements made during parliamentary discussions.
