Our Bureau
New Delhi
The Indian government revealed that a staggering 216,219 citizens renounced their Indian citizenship in 2023, according to data presented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This figure marks a slight decrease from the 225,620 Indians who gave up their citizenship in 2022 but remained significantly higher than previous years, with 163,370 in 2021, 85,256 in 2020, and 144,017 in 2019.
The high number of citizenship renunciations has raised concerns, with AAP member Raghav Chadha questioning whether the government has investigated the reasons behind this trend and assessed the potential “financial and intellectual drainage” resulting from the loss of citizens. In response, Minister Singh emphasized that the decision to renounce or acquire citizenship is a personal choice but highlighted the government’s recognition of the opportunities presented by the global workforce in today’s knowledge economy.
Singh described a “successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora” as an asset for India, underscoring the importance of leveraging diaspora networks and utilizing the soft power associated with a thriving expatriate community. The government’s initiatives aim to fully harness this potential by promoting the sharing of knowledge and expertise. India stands to benefit greatly from a thriving expatriate community, aiming to foster connections that could contribute to India’s growth and global standing.
