Over 200,000 Indian citizens renounced their nationality in 2023, marking a significant increase in the number of people opting to leave the country, according to data released by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in Rajya Sabha that the number of Indian citizens who renounced their citizenship in the last five years is 2,16,219 in 2023, followed by 2,25,620 in 2022, 1,63,370 in 2021, 85,256 in 2020, and 1,44,017 in 2019.
AAP member Raghav Chadha questioned whether the government had taken measures to investigate the reasons behind the “high number of renunciations” and “low acceptance of Indian citizenship,” and if so, requested details. He also sought information on whether the government had assessed the “financial as well as intellectual drainage” and the loss to the country due to the high renunciation of citizenship.
In response, the minister stated, “The reasons for renouncing or taking citizenship are personal.” He highlighted that the government acknowledges the global workplace’s potential in the knowledge economy era and has significantly transformed its engagement with the Indian diaspora.
“A successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora is an asset for India,” Singh stated.
“India stands to gain a lot from tapping its diaspora networks and productive utilisation of the soft power that comes from having such a flourishing diaspora. The government’s efforts are also aimed at harnessing the diaspora potential to its fullest including through sharing of knowledge and expertise,” he added.
