The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that more than 1.7 million Indians have given up their citizenship since 2014, as per data presented in Parliament. While the annual numbers were relatively stable in the years preceding the Covid-19 pandemic, a notable shift occurred post-pandemic, with a sharp rise in 2021 and 2022, followed by a slight moderation in the last two years. Despite the recent easing, figures remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Trends in Citizenship Renunciation
Data tabled in the Rajya Sabha indicates that between 2011 and 2024, a total of 2.06 million Indians renounced citizenship. From 2011 to 2019, annual surrenders increased gradually from 122,819 to 144,017, marking a rise of around 17 percent over eight years with no major fluctuations.
The pandemic disrupted this trend, with numbers dropping to 85,256 in 2020, a decline of nearly 41 percent compared to 2019, largely due to travel restrictions and processing delays. As restrictions lifted, renunciations surged to 163,370 in 2021, a 92 percent increase from 2020. In 2022, the numbers further rose to 225,620, about 57 percent higher than in 2019.
Figures moderated slightly to 216,219 in 2023 and 206,378 in 2024, yet the 2024 level remained approximately 43 percent above pre-pandemic averages.
Grievances of Indians Abroad
The MEA also reported on complaints from Indians living overseas. During 2024–25, the ministry received 16,127 grievances through official platforms, including 11,195 via the MADAD portal and 4,932 through CPGRAMS.
Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of distress cases at 3,049, followed by the UAE with 1,587 complaints. Other countries with notable cases included Malaysia (662), the United States (620), Oman (613), Kuwait (549), Canada (345), Australia (318), the UK (299), and Qatar (289).
Summary
Since 2014, over 1.7 million Indians have renounced citizenship, with post-pandemic years seeing the most significant increases. Concurrently, the MEA continues to address grievances of Indians living abroad, highlighting ongoing support and monitoring of overseas citizens.
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