News Desk: Leaving home is never easy. Leaving your country forever is even harder. Yet, nearly nine lakh Indians have given up their citizenship in the last five years.
Data shared in Parliament during the Winter Session shows that more than 20 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship between 2011 and 2024. Almost half of these cases happened after 2020, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sharp Rise Since 2022
For many years, around 1.2 to 1.45 lakh Indians gave up their passports every year. But since 2022, this number has crossed two lakh annually.
The Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament that the reasons are “personal” and mostly linked to “convenience”. The government also said it recognises the growing importance of a global workforce.
Who Is Leaving Now?
Earlier waves of migration included labourers during British rule and skilled professionals like doctors and engineers since the 1970s. But experts say the current trend is different.
Former PMO adviser Sanjaya Baru wrote that wealthy Indians, high net worth individuals, and influential families are now moving abroad in large numbers. According to global estimates, around 23,000 Indian millionaires have left the country since 2014.
No Dual Citizenship Is a Big Reason
One major reason Indians give up their passports is that India does not allow dual citizenship. Under Indian law, a person automatically loses Indian citizenship after accepting another country’s citizenship.
For Indians settled abroad, foreign citizenship is often required for:
Voting rights
Social security benefits
Public sector jobs
Permanent residence and stability
India’s OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card allows travel and limited rights, but no political rights. Many migrants say they had no real choice but to renounce Indian citizenship.
Pandemic Effect and Beyond
During Covid-19, citizenship renunciation dropped sharply because embassies were closed and travel was restricted. Once borders reopened, pending applications were cleared, causing a spike in numbers in 2022.
However, high numbers continued in 2023 and 2024, showing this is not just a backlog issue.
Better Opportunities and Lifestyle Abroad
Many Indians say they moved abroad for:
Better pay
Cleaner environment
Safer cities
Reliable public transport
Better quality of life
Even with higher living costs, many professionals feel their earnings and lifestyle are better overseas.
Highly Skilled Indians Are Leaving
Global studies show that Indians are among the most educated migrant groups in countries like the US, UK, and Canada.
In the US, 81% of Indian immigrants aged 25 and above have at least a bachelor’s degree — much higher than the average.
Most follow a similar path:
Study abroad → skilled job → permanent residency → citizenship
Push Factors at Home
Experts say issues like:
Poor air quality
Traffic congestion
Weak public transport
Infrastructure problems
often push those who can afford it to leave India.
As one popular finance influencer put it, many Indians are leaving because they are unhappy with the lifestyle they experience today.
