India’s repeated evacuation efforts reflect a maturing foreign policy, but they also reveal systemic blind spots in migration governance. In recent years, India has conducted several high-profile evacuation missions to rescue its citizens stranded in war-torn or crisis-hit countries. From Operation Ganga in Ukraine to Operation Kaveri in Sudan, and more recently, efforts in Israel and Gaza amid conflict, these missions have drawn praise for their speed and coordination.

However, they also raise deeper questions: Why are so many Indians regularly caught in the crosshairs of global conflicts? What compels them to be there in such large numbers — and why is their return always reactive, not planned? From students and professionals to migrant labourers, India’s citizens abroad are increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical instability. It is time India evolves from a rescue-centric mindset to a strategy of long-term engagement, reintegration, and risk mitigation.

The Indian diaspora is among the largest in the world — over 18 million strong. But it is far from homogenous. While much attention is paid to high-skilled NRIs in the US or UK, a large portion of Indians abroad are low- or........

© News18