Why India Needs a Law for Citizens Living Abroad
🇮🇳 Beyond Borders, Within Rights Why India Needs a Law for Citizens Living Abroad ✍️ Adv. C.V. Manuvilsan Senior Partner, LEX LOCI Associates --- 🔷 INTRODUCTION India is home to one of the world’s largest diasporas—over 32 million Indians live abroad. Yet, despite this vast global footprint, India has no comprehensive law that protects its citizens who pursue education, employment, or permanent residence overseas. The Emigration Act, 1983, a relic of a different era, only applies to low-skilled workers migrating to a specific group of “Emigration Check Required (ECR)” countries. It excludes millions of students, skilled professionals, and permanent residency (PR) seekers moving to countries like Germany, Canada, Australia, and the UK. This legal vacuum allows unregulated overseas education consultants and immigration agents to operate unchecked—often leading to fraud, abuse, and helplessness for unsuspecting migrants. The need for a modern, inclusive, and rights-bas...