2.25 lakh people renounced Indian citizenship in 2022 itself, highest since 2011

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday informed Parliament that a total of 2,25,620 people had renounced their Indian citizenship. The EAM mentioned that the lowest number was in the year 2020 when only 85,256 had renounced their citizenship in India. 

According to available data, India has seen an upward rise in renouncing of citizenship from 2011. Jaishankar also informed that parliament that since 2011, a whopping 16 Lakh Indians had given up their citizenship. 

A break-up of data shows in

2015 - 1,31,489 Indian renounced their citizenship

2016- 1,41,603 people gave it up

2017- 1,33,049 renounced

2018- 1,34,561 people

2019-1,44,017 renounced their citizenship 

2020- 85,256 gave up

2021 -1,63,370 surrendered

A look at the number will show that the number of people renouncing their Indian citizenship has only increased since 2015, with a sudden drop in 2020, which is the year the Covid-19 pandemic took over the world. The number reached a whopping 1.63 lakhs in 2021. 

Jaishankar also mentioned the numbers as accounted for since 2011. 

This shows that in

2011- 1,22,819 people gave up their citizenship

2012- 1,20,923 people renounced

2013- 1,31,405 people

2014- 1,29,328 people

The total number of Indians who gave up their Indian citizenship since 2011 comes to 16,63,440.

To a specific query, he said, according to information, five Indian nationals obtained the citizenship of the United Arab Emirates during the last three years.

While trends in securing work visa and permanent residency in countries like Canada and Australia seems be on the rise after they opened their borders following the Covid lockdown, Jaishankar provided a list of 135 countries whose citizenship Indians acquired.

To another question, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the government is aware of the issue of professionals having been laid off by US companies in recent months.

"Of these, a certain percentage is likely to be Indian nationals on H-1B and L1 visas. The government of India has consistently raised issues relating to the movement of high skilled workers, including IT professionals, with the US government," he said.

"It has also been working with various stakeholders, including industry organisations and business chambers on these issues," Muraleedharan said.