Parliament Question: Assistance to Indian Nationals in Distress Abroad

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1079 ANSWERED ON – 24/07/2026 ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN NATIONALS IN DISTRESS ABROAD

1079. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Indian nationals assisted by Indian Missions and Posts abroad after being stranded due to conflict, natural disasters, labour disputes, medical emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances, country-wise during the last three years;

(b) the number of requests received for repatriation and the number of repatriations successfully facilitated during the said period;

(c) whether the Government has established any Standard Operating Procedure for timely evacuation and repatriation of stranded Indian nationals; and

(d) the measures being taken to strengthen emergency response and consular assistance for Indians abroad? 1ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) The details of Indian nationals evacuated during conflicts in last 3 years are attached at Annexure-I. The country-wise details of Indian nationals repatriated and assisted during natural disasters, labour disputes, medical emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances in last 3 years are attached at Annexure-II. In addition to aforementioned assistance, Government of India facilitated return of Indian nationals from West Asian countries to India since the onset of the Iran-US-Israel conflict by facilitating commercial flights, including non-scheduled operations, transit visas, local transportation, cross-border movements, etc.

(c) & (d) To ensure safety, security and well-being of the Indian nationals abroad, Government utilizes a structured, multi-layered mechanism, consisting of advisories to caution Indian nationals, communication channels enabling Indian nationals to contact Indian Missions/Posts, and evacuation operations, involving multiple stakeholders, to safely evacuate stranded Indian nationals. During 2evacuation process, 24x7 Control Rooms are operated at headquarters and abroad to provide information and assistance to the stranded Indian nationals. Government also provides logistical support including safe shelter, meals, local and cross-border movement and transportation by arranging special vehicles and evacuation flights.

With a view to swiftly responding to crisis situations faced by overseas Indian nationals, the Ministry’s ‘Rapid Response Cell (RRC)’ coordinates with all agencies, services, Armed forces, and Ministries in order to ensure seamless inter-Ministerial coordination for execution of evacuation operations. Ministry has also developed and is undertaking final trials of a digital emergency response solution for use during evacuation operations.

Besides emergency assistance during conflicts and crisis situations, Government has established a robust framework to ensure the overall well-being of Indian nationals abroad. Indian citizens can contact the Embassy/Consulate through walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency helpline numbers, WhatsApp numbers, grievance redressal portals like MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate, and social media etc. Indian Missions organize Consular Camps at different locations to provide 3consular services, and Open Houses, where Indian nationals seeking assistance could walk-in without prior appointments.

Countries with sizable number of Indian migrant workers have dedicated Labour Wings in Indian Missions. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras have been set up in key locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur to provide guidance and counselling to Indian workers.

Missions in Gulf countries have provisions for shelter homes to assist Indian women in distress by providing boarding and lodging, medical treatment and arranging for their repatriation.

The Government of India has established several bilateral mechanisms and agreements with key destination countries, enabling implementation of worker-protection provisions, resolution of complaints, and legal assistance frameworks. Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements signed with countries enable issues pertaining to students, professionals and researchers to be addressed.

**** 4Annexure-I Details of Government’s major evacuations/operations in last 3 years Country & Name of the Number of evacuated Indian Year Operation nationals Sudan 4,097 2023 (including 136 foreign nationals) Operation Kaveri Israel 1,343 2023 (including 14 OCI card holders Operation Ajay and 20 foreign nationals) Haiti 2024 17 Operation Indravati Special Humanitarian 2024 Airlift of deceased Indian 45 (mortal remains) nationals from Kuwait 2024-25 Syria 86 2022-25 Iraq 135 Iran 3597 2025 Operation Sindhu (excluding 14 OCI Card holders and 14 foreign nationals) Israel 2025 818 Operation Sindhu Sri Lanka 2500 HADR Operation Sagar (424 Indians evacuated by 2025 Bandhu special IAF flights on gratis basis + 2076 Indians were facilitated to return by commercial flights)) Repatriation of Indian 1741 2025-26 nationals forced to work in cyber scam centres 5alongside Thailand- Myanmar Border Iran via Armenia (Cross-border movement of Indian nationals from 2026 2557 Iran via Armenia to return by available flights during recent West Asia crisis) 6Annexure-II Details of Indian nationals assisted during natural disasters, labour disputes, medical emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances during last 3 years along with number of repatriated Indian nationals Country No. of Indian nationals No. of Indian nationals assisted by Indian repatriated by Indian Missions/Posts Missions /Posts Albania 16 14 Algeria 21 21 Angola 28 20 Armenia 182 0 Australia 03 03 Austria 07 0 Bahrain 1666 2258 Bangladesh 115 2 Belarus 03 03 Bhutan 01 0 Brazil 02 02 Cambodia 2489 707 Cameroon 75 75 Chad 20 08 Chile 02 02 Colombia 30 30 Cote D’Ivore 01 0 Croatia 05 05 Cuba 02 02 Czech Republic 03 02 Democratic 01 01 Republic of Congo Djibouti 02 02 Ecuador 01 0 Egypt 08 02 Eswatini 01 01 7Ethiopia 167 167 01 01 Finland France 01 30 08 0 Gabon Gambia 10 10 Georgia 460 0 Germany 103 0 02 02 Ghana Greece 01 0 Guyana 73 37 Hungary, 02 01 Bosnia & Herzegovina Iceland 03 0 Indonesia 04 04 Iran 66 66 Iraq 246 0 Ireland 0 09 250 2127 Israel

(evacuation) Italy 08 948 Jamaica 03 03 Japan 01 01 Jordan 256 329 Kazakhstan 28 188 Kuwait 10111 10111 Kyrgyzstan 0 93 Lao PDR 2318 2318 Latvia 01 0 Lebanon 93 93 14 02 Liberia Libya 78 65 Malaysia 7657 7626 8Maldives 2776 2776 Malta 01 01 Mauritania 01 0 Mauritius 141 141 Mongolia 01 01 Montenegro 01 01 Morocco 13 01 Mozambique 49 46 Myanmar 0 2078 Nepal 388 0 Niger 01 0 Oman 10917 9958 Palestine 01 01 Papua New 02 02 Guinea Peru 03 0 Philippines 43 22 Poland 05 05 Portugal 01 01 Qatar 4589 156 Republic of 09 0 Congo 0 72 Romania Russia 62 08 Saudi Arabia 31,896 144 Senegal 04 04 Serbia 63 190 Seychelles 120 119 Singapore 01 01 Slovak Republic 45 02 South Sudan 13 01 Spain 701 12 Sri Lanka 3371 3371 Switzerland 0 5 Syria 93 93 Tajikistan 11 05 9Thailand 2034 2034 Togo 08 0 Trinidad & 03 03 Tobago Tunisia 51 03 Turkiye 40 13 UAE 1755 577 Uganda and 35 17 Burundi Ukraine 10 10 United Kingdom 0 5290 Uzbekistan 43 43 Vietnam 129 129 Yemen 153 03 Zimbabwe 02 03 ***** 10