The ‘great Indian migration’ is primarily believed to be an outcome of the search for better economic opportunities and improved social security^[1]

9 February 2023: More than 16 lakh Indians renounced their Indian citizenship since 2011, Govt disclosed in Rajya Sabha^[2]

¶ The exodus of big money from India^[3]

HNIs (high-net-worth individuals) refer to individuals with investable wealth of USD 1 million or more i.e. ₹8.2 crore

7,500 (HNIs) moved out of India in 2022; Trend expected to continue even in 2023
-- London-based Henley & Partners (H&P) 2023 Report

¶ Largest emigrant population from India^[2:1]

India is the top origin country with nearly 1.8 crore people living outside their homeland^[4]
-- World Migration Report 2022 by UN

¶ Emigration continues unabated^[2:2]

*_{There was a reverse in migration in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic}

In 2022 an average of 336 people gave up their Indian citizenship in a day, almost double of 2011

¶ Emerging destinations of these individuals^[2:3]

According to the Migration Policy Institute, as of 2022, Indians represent the second-largest immigrant group in the U.S

¶ Students going abroad for education^[2:4]

7.5 lakh students who left the country for higher studies in 2022

¶ Indian Immigrant Population in the United States, 1980-2021^[2:5]

¶ Growing Overseas Citizen of India^[2:6]

People giving up Indian citizenship can, however, apply for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) membership which facilitates visa-free travel to India, rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities

References:

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1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-citizenship-renounce-passport-leave-explainer-immigration-immigration-india/article67208636.ece ↩︎

2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/225-lakh-people-renounced-indian-citizenship-in-2022-govt-data/article66490087.ece ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

3. https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-private-wealth-migration-report-2023/private-wealth-insights/trends-among-indian-hnwis-navigating-opportunities-and-challenges ↩︎

4. https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/wmr-2022-interactive/ ↩︎