2.25 Lakh people renounced Indian citizenship: Centre to RS

New Delhi: According to government data, over 16 lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship since 2011, with 2,25,620 last year being the highest number during that time. The lowest number, 85,256, occurred in 2020.

In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, presented the number of Indians who gave up their citizenship by year.

According to Mr Jaishankar, 1,31,489 Indians gave up their citizenship in 2015, 1,41,603 did so in 2016, and 1,33,049 did so in 2017.

In 2018, the number was 1,34,561, while 1,44,017 renounced their citizenship in 2019, 85,256 in 2020 and 1,63,370 in 2021.

The number in 2022 was 2,25,620, according to the minister.

For reference purposes, Jaishankar said the data for 2011 was 1,22,819, while it was 1,20,923 in 2012, 1,31,405 in 2013 and 1,29,328 in 2014.

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 citizenship of the United Arab Emirates during the last three years.

Mr Jaishankar also 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 highly 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," Mr Muraleedharan said.

With PTI inputs