New York, May 8, 2026 — India presented its comprehensive approach to migration governance at a special event held by its Permanent Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh described India’s policy as centred on the “welfare, protection and empowerment” of emigrants and underscored the country’s use of digital tools to support its citizens abroad.
Singh emphasized the scale and reach of the Indian diaspora—roughly 34 million people across more than 200 countries—and highlighted their contributions through remittances, investments, skills and knowledge exchange, which benefit both India and host nations. He framed India’s migration policy as a continuum that covers pre-departure preparation, safe transit, dignified employment, and eventual return and reintegration.
As an example of digital innovation, Singh showcased the e-Migrate platform, a mobile application designed to make migration-related services more accessible. The app allows users to track application status, check lists of registered or blacklisted recruitment agents, and lodge complaints or grievances, streamlining support for migrants at different stages of their journeys.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, noted that migration has become a politically charged issue in many parts of the world, and reaffirmed India’s commitment to legal and regular migration pathways. He stressed the importance of a clear distinction between migrants and refugees and pointed to India’s “digital stack” as a means to build population-scale solutions for migrant welfare.
Ambassador Parvathaneni also expressed India’s willingness to cooperate with other countries, offering its open-source digital platforms as models to help governments better manage and protect their migrant communities. The delegation framed these initiatives as part of a broader effort to combine policy, protection and technology to improve outcomes for migrants and their families.
