Parliament Question: Review of Death of Indian Citizens Abroad

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1054 ANSWERED ON - 24/07/2026 REVIEW OF DEATH OF INDIAN CITIZENS ABROAD †1054. SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI:

SHRI JAI PARKASH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the cases of death of Indian citizens abroad during the years 2023 to 2025;

(b) if so, the details of the causes of death (natural death, workplace accident, suicide, crime or others) country-wise, particularly in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Italy and Germany;

(c) whether any independent assessment has been conducted by the Government with regard to the working conditions, mental health, social security and local safety standards of Indian migrants and labourers working in Gulf and European countries, if so, the details thereof; and 1(d) whether any new system has been introduced to simplify processes of providing legal aid, financial assistance, compensation to families in distress, settlement of insurance claims and quick repatriation of mortal remains to India with dignity through Indian missions abroad and to make it transparent, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) Yes, the Government has reviewed the cases of death of Indian citizens abroad during the years 2023 to 2025. As per the information available with the Ministry, cause-wise & country-wise list pertaining to deaths of Indian citizens from 2023-2025 is placed at Annexure A.

(c) The Government accords high priority to the safety, protection and well-being of Indian migrants and workers abroad. There are established channels to enable them to reach out to Indian Missions/Posts in case they need any assistance. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (previously known as Indian Workers Resource Centres) have been set up in key locations such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah, which work in close coordination with Indian Missions/Posts to provide guidance, counselling and all possible 2assistance to the Indian workers. They can also contact Indian Missions/Posts through walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp number, grievance redressal portals like MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate, social media etc. There are dedicated Labour Wings for handling such matters, where there is a sizeable number of Indian migrant workers. Indian Missions/Posts regularly organize Open House and Consular Camps in remote areas to get feedback from the Indian workers residing in such areas and to address their grievances.

On receipt of any complaint or grievance from Indian workers through the PBSKs as well as other established channels, Indian Missions/Posts pro-actively takes it up with the concerned Foreign Employer (FE) and, if needed, the work place of the aggrieved worker is also visited. The issues are also taken up with the local Labour Department and other concerned authority of the host country for redressal.

Further, as additional safeguard for protection and safety of the female workers (including domestic sector workers), Government has authorized only State run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) to recruit Indian female workers holding ECR category passports for overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries through the e-Migrate Portal. Moreover, there is a minimum age criteria of 30 years 3for female workers holding ECR category passport for overseas employment to protect them against exploitation.

(d) Several measures and steps have been taken by the Government of India to ensure the well-being and protection of Indian workers overseas such as Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY). The Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) is a mandatory insurance scheme for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) category workers going to ECR countries. The scheme provides an insurance cover of INR 10 Lakhs in case of accidental death or permanent disability and other benefits at a nominal insurance premium of INR 275/- for two years or INR 375/- for three years validity.

Further, various Ministries of the Government of India coordinate to ensure time-bound transportation of mortal remains. The eCARe Clearance Portal (https://ecare.mohfw.gov.in) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is an online platform for providing clearance within 48 hours for transportation of mortal remains to India. The Portal is aimed at integrating all stakeholders on a single all-in-one interface, including the Consignee, Airport Health Organizations (APHOs) and Airlines. The portal facilitates smooth and timely clearance of documents with automated periodic alerts and live status tracking.

4Indian Missions/Posts also utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund

(ICWF) to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress abroad on a means-tested basis. Under ICWF, the major assistance/facilitation includes Boarding & Lodging, Air Passage to India, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, etc.

***** 5Annexure A the number of cases of deaths of Indian citizens during 2023-2025, due to- S. No Country Name Natural Workplace Other Suicide Crime reasons accidents reasons 1 Afghanistan 4 0 0 0 0 2 Albania 1 1 0 0 0 3 Algeria 4 5 1 0 0 4 Angola 26 0 0 0 0 5 Argentina 3 0 0 0 0 6 Armenia 75 19 2 3 0 7 Australia 472 8 19 3 75 8 Austria 48 0 0 0 3 9 Azerbaijan 12 0 0 0 0 10 Bahrain 703 10 101 2 43 11 Bangladesh 78 1 1 0 5 12 Belarus 2 0 0 1 10 13 Belgium 32 1 0 1 1 14 Bhutan 31 9 7 0 4 Bosnia & 15 0 0 0 0 1 Herzegovina 16 Botswana 23 0 3 0 9 17 Brazil 14 0 1 0 0 18 Brunei 28 0 5 0 2 19 Bulgaria 5 2 0 0 0 20 Burkina Faso 8 2 0 0 1 21 Cambodia 29 0 5 0 3 22 Cameroon 10 1 0 0 1 23 Canada 453 40 39 9 411 24 Chile 4 0 1 0 1 25 China 117 0 7 0 6 26 Colombia 4 0 1 1 0 27 Cote D'ivoire 20 3 0 3 1 28 Croatia 4 1 1 0 6 29 Cuba 3 0 0 0 0 30 Cyprus 15 11 4 1 0 31 Czech Republic 4 0 0 0 10 Democratic 32 Republic of 86 5 4 3 5 Congo 33 Denmark 19 0 4 1 1 634 Djibouti 4 2 0 0 0 Dominican 35 2 0 0 0 1 Republic 36 Egypt 46 2 0 0 0 Equatorial 37 3 1 0 0 0 Guinea 38 Eritrea 1 0 0 0 0 39 Estonia 0 0 1 0 2 40 Ethiopia 13 1 1 1 0 41 Fiji 5 1 0 0 1 42 Finland 8 0 2 0 0 43 France 92 2 6 2 1 44 Gabon 2 0 1 0 0 45 Georgia 0 0 0 0 7 46 Germany 172 3 9 3 45 47 Ghana 48 8 1 0 0 48 Greece 80 4 8 0 35 49 Guatemala 2 0 0 0 4 50 Guinea 16 0 2 0 1 51 Guyana 8 0 1 0 0 52 Hungary 17 1 2 0 2 53 Iceland 2 0 0 0 0 54 Indonesia 93 2 1 0 13 55 Iran 26 10 1 0 6 56 Iraq 89 3 0 0 9 57 Ireland 39 0 1 1 6 58 Italy 910 9 38 9 91 59 Jamaica 5 0 2 2 7 60 Japan 61 0 4 0 15 61 Jordan 34 5 3 0 1 62 Kazakhstan 14 0 0 0 1 63 Kenya 87 3 5 0 12 Kingdom Of 64 4 0 1 0 3 Eswatini 65 Kuwait 1672 62 162 10 285 66 Kyrgyzstan 0 0 0 2 9 67 Laos 8 0 3 0 4 68 Latvia 0 0 0 0 1 69 Lebanon 25 0 2 2 6 70 Liberia 18 0 0 0 2 71 Libya 3 0 1 0 2 72 Lithuania 1 0 0 0 0 773 Madagascar 25 0 0 1 0 74 Malawi 22 0 0 0 5 75 Malaysia 1056 7 131 8 235 76 Maldives 57 13 12 0 6 77 Mali 5 0 1 0 0 78 Malta 19 0 4 0 4 79 Mauritania 3 0 0 0 0 80 Mauritius 49 9 8 0 1 81 Mexico 36 0 0 1 0 82 Mongolia 1 0 0 0 0 83 Morocco 5 1 0 0 0 84 Mozambique 26 0 0 0 8 85 Myanmar 8 0 0 0 0 86 Namibia 3 0 0 0 0 87 Nepal 44 1 0 0 0 88 New Zealand 42 0 0 0 0 89 Niger 1 0 0 2 0 90 Nigeria 122 9 3 0 2 91 Norway 23 0 0 0 0 92 Oman 1092 38 146 0 222 93 Pakistan 29 0 0 0 0 94 Panama 19 0 0 0 0 Papua New 95 1 1 0 0 2 Guinea 96 Paraguay 1 0 0 0 0 97 Peru 6 0 0 0 0 98 Philippines 184 17 4 15 1 99 Poland 35 0 4 2 12 100 Portugal 76 5 2 0 26 101 Qatar 783 23 66 0 102 Republic of 102 1 0 1 0 2 Congo Republic of 103 8 0 1 0 19 Korea 104 Romania 15 1 1 0 2 105 Russia 67 0 6 0 36 106 Rwanda 11 0 0 0 0 107 Saudi Arabia 6376 182 354 29 1040 108 Senegal 12 2 0 0 1 109 Serbia 7 2 1 0 3 110 Seychelles 19 3 0 0 12 111 Sierra Leone 18 6 2 0 0 8112 Singapore 639 32 14 0 0 113 Slovak Republic 2 0 0 0 2 114 Slovenia 3 0 0 0 0 115 South Africa 125 4 0 3 16 116 South Sudan 4 2 0 0 1 117 Spain 147 0 8 1 15 118 Sri Lanka 67 7 6 1 16 119 Sudan 4 0 0 0 0 120 Suriname 3 0 1 0 2 121 Sweden 18 0 0 0 0 122 Switzerland 54 0 0 0 4 123 Syria 2 0 0 0 0 124 Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 1 125 Tanzania 2 1 0 0 0 126 Thailand 293 1 18 1 76 127 The Netherlands 62 0 0 0 0 128 Timor Leste 1 0 0 0 0 129 Togo 6 0 0 0 0 Trinidad & 130 0 0 0 1 1 Tobago 131 Tunisia 2 1 0 0 1 132 Turkiye 19 1 0 0 7 133 Turkmenistan 1 0 0 0 0 134 Uganda 84 3 6 2 10 135 Ukraine 4 0 0 0 0 United Arab 136 5702 128 511 25 1092 Emirates 137 United Kingdom 632 6 34 5 149 United States of 138 2340 46 62 37 365 America 139 Uruguay 1 0 0 0 0 140 Uzbeksitan 19 7 2 0 0 141 Venezuela 1 0 0 0 0 142 Vietnam 41 2 0 0 4 143 Yemen 4 0 0 0 0 144 Zambia 24 0 2 1 36 145 Zimbabwe 10 1 0 0 1 ***** 9