By Tajdar H Zaidi
In 2024, 2,06,378 Indians renounced their citizenship, according to data presented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Lok Sabha. This isn’t just a number — it’s part of a decade-long trend showing more and more Indians choosing foreign passports.
From 85,256 in 2020 to a peak of 2,25,620 in 2022, and over 2 lakh in both 2023 and 2024, the trajectory points to one of the largest voluntary migrations of skilled and educated people in modern Indian history. A decade ago, such figures were lower, averaging 1.2–1.3 lakh annually between 2011 and 2014.
The official explanation is limited: the decision is “personal” and unique to each individual. But patterns, combined with migration research and economic data, reveal deeper forces at work.
Economic Aspirations and the Global Pay Gap
For many professionals, especially in IT, finance, engineering, and healthcare, the salary difference between India and developed economies remains staggering.
- A senior software engineer in the US can earn 5–8 times more than in India, even after adjusting for the cost of living.
- Countries like Canada and Australia offer permanent residency pathways tied to skills, making the move financially and legally attractive.
The global “war for talent” means Indian professionals are heavily recruited for roles abroad — from Silicon Valley to the UK’s NHS.
Education as a Gateway to Migration
A huge share of these citizenship renunciations is linked to students who study abroad and then settle there.
- In 2023 alone, over 7.5 lakh Indian students were enrolled in foreign universities — a record high.
- Countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany have linked student visas to post-study work permits and permanent residency.
For many families, foreign education isn’t just about academics — it’s a strategic migration plan for long-term security and opportunity.
Quality of Life and Social Infrastructure
Healthcare, pollution, urban congestion, and crime rates weigh heavily on the decision to move.
- The World Air Quality Report 2023 placed multiple Indian cities among the world’s most polluted.
- Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and social welfare schemes abroad is a powerful pull factor, especially for families with young children or elderly parents.
The search for better work-life balance — shorter commutes, safer neighborhoods, and cleaner environments — is a recurring theme among those who leave.
Business Climate and Tax Structures
For high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, ease of doing business abroad is a significant motivator.
- Lower corporate tax rates, simpler compliance rules, and global market access attract business owners to jurisdictions like Singapore, the UAE, and the UK.
- Some also cite concerns over India’s unpredictable regulatory environment and tax litigation.
Passport Power and Mobility
The Indian passport ranks 85th on the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 65 countries. Compare that to the Japanese, Singaporean, or German passports, which open doors to over 190 destinations without prior visas.
For global professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs, this difference in travel freedom is not cosmetic — it affects business opportunities, collaborations, and lifestyle choices.
The COVID-19 Factor
The pandemic was an inflection point. Many Indians abroad who had considered returning decided to stay put after witnessing:
- Faster vaccine rollouts in certain countries.
- More comprehensive social safety nets during lockdowns.
- The convenience of remote work makes global relocation easier.
Government’s View: From “Brain Drain” to “Brain Gain”
Despite the scale of this exodus, the Indian government is careful to frame the diaspora as an asset, not a loss.
Minister Singh told Parliament that a “prosperous and influential diaspora” can boost India’s global standing, attract investments, and enhance cultural diplomacy.
India’s overseas population now stands at 3.43 crore, split almost evenly between 1.71 crore Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 1.71 crore Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Initiatives like Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme, and diaspora investment platforms are meant to keep ties strong.
However, critics argue that the “brain gain” narrative can be a smokescreen — India still loses a significant share of its best-trained minds and most ambitious entrepreneurs to foreign economies, with limited success in bringing them back.
The Real Question
Is this wave of citizenship renunciation a symptom of domestic challenges — infrastructure gaps, pollution, bureaucracy, limited global mobility — or simply the reality of a connected world, where talent naturally flows to where it is most rewarded?
Migration experts suggest it’s both. Economic globalisation has made transnational careers normal, but India’s slow pace in matching developed-world standards for wages, quality of life, and ease of doing business pushes many to make their stay abroad permanent.
If the government wants to slow this trend, the answer may not lie in discouraging migration but in making India a place people want to return to — a country that can match global living standards while offering the emotional and cultural pull of home.
Until then, the two lakh-plus annual citizenship renunciations are likely to remain not an anomaly, but the new normal.
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