Rising tide of Indians acquiring foreign nationalities
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In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of Indians renouncing their citizenship. According to government data, the number of Indians who surrendered their citizenship has been on the rise since 2011, with a significant spike observed between 2020 and 2024.
In 2011, 1,22,819 Indians renounced their citizenship. This number increased to 1,29,328 in 2014 and further to 1,63,370 in 2021. The trend continued in 2020, with 85,256 Indians surrendering their citizenship. The following years saw a significant jump, with 2,16,219 Indians renouncing their citizenship in 2023 and more than 2.06 lakh Indians doing so in 2024.
While the search results do not provide direct information explaining the increase from 2020 to 2024, several factors likely contribute to this phenomenon.
One of the key factors is the increased migration and settlement abroad. Many Indians seek better economic opportunities, education, or quality of life overseas, and obtaining foreign citizenship may require renouncing Indian citizenship due to India’s prohibition on dual citizenship.
Changes in immigration policies worldwide also play a significant role. Some countries have altered their immigration or citizenship rules, making it advantageous or necessary for Indians to renounce citizenship for better rights, benefits, or political stability.
Personal and global factors, such as political, social, and economic uncertainties, may also influence decisions to seek foreign citizenship. The COVID-19 pandemic aftermath, global economic shifts, and regional instability are examples of such factors.
Lastly, the legal framework in India is a crucial factor. India does not allow dual citizenship, so acquiring another country’s citizenship forces an official renunciation of Indian citizenship, contributing to increased numbers in renunciation statistics.
Despite this increase, the government recognizes the potential of the Indian diaspora and has transformed its engagement with overseas Indians. The government aims to fully harness the diaspora's knowledge and expertise, with the total overseas Indian population being 3,43,56,193, consisting of 1,71,81,071 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 1,71,75,122 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
This article provides an overview of the factors contributing to the increase in Indians renouncing citizenship, based on the available data and broader context. However, more in-depth research may be required to fully understand the complexities of this trend.
[1] Jordan Citizenship by Investment program (Source: [Link]) [2] Unrelated geopolitical topic (Source: [Link]) [3] Unrelated human rights topic (Source: [Link]) [4] More unrelated geopolitical topic (Source: [Link]) [5] Yet another unrelated human rights topic (Source: [Link])
Policy-and-legislation changes in foreign countries are likely contributing factors to the increase in Indians renouncing their citizenship. For instance, the Jordan Citizenship by Investment program, as mentioned in [Source: 1], could have incentivized some Indians to seek foreign citizenship.
Politics and general-news, such as regional instability and economic shifts, also play a significant role in influencing personal decisions to renounce Indian citizenship for a foreign one. For example, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic shifts could have prompted many Indians to seek better opportunities and political stability in foreign countries.
