The number of people renouncing Indian citizenship has increased by about 67% in the last 10 years. While 1,29,328 people renounced Indian citizenship in 2014, this number increased to 2,16,219 in 2023. The government says that people have personal reasons behind this, and it is being seen as a normal process.
Main reasons behind giving up citizenship:
Jobs or better opportunities abroad: Many people settle down permanently in foreign countries because of better employment opportunities there. Business and trade opportunities: Some people go abroad for business and acquire permanent citizenship there. Marriage: Many people give up Indian citizenship and acquire citizenship of other countries due to marriage with foreign citizens.
Major countries where Indian citizenship is being renounced:
Although the Ministry of External Affairs has not released the data on which country’s citizenship was taken after giving up citizenship, but according to estimates, Canada and Australia are becoming the most popular choices among Indians. The main reason for this is the simplicity of the rules for obtaining citizenship in these countries. Apart from this, America, Britain, New Zealand, and Mauritius are also the countries where people have taken new citizenship after giving up Indian citizenship.
Government’s View:
The Indian government is not looking at this in a negative light. Rather, it considers it a positive development. Successful and prosperous NRIs settled abroad are being seen as an important asset of the country. The government believes that these NRIs enhance India’s reputation at the global level and can contribute to the development of the country.
Education and employment:
At present, more than 13 lakh Indian students are studying abroad, most of whom plan to settle down there and get a job. The reason behind this is the desire for economic prosperity and a better standard of living.
It is the vision of the Government that Indians settled abroad not only prosper economically but also prove to be a great strength for the country.
