India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said global demand for Indian talent is growing due to diplomatic efforts and governance reforms.
This trend reflects India's strategy to leverage its human capital as a tool for economic growth and geopolitical influence. By streamlining the movement of its citizens, the government aims to integrate the Indian workforce more deeply into global markets.
Jaishankar said these remarks during discussions linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visits to the G7 summit, France, and Slovakia. He said that the increasing valuation of Indian professionals abroad is a result of both diplomatic outreach and internal systemic changes.
Central to this growth is what Jaishankar described as a passport revolution. He said the transformation of India's passport issuance process is a model of governance that enables a global workforce. This administrative shift has reduced barriers for citizens seeking employment and opportunities overseas.
To illustrate the scale of this transformation, the minister cited historical data regarding document accessibility. In 2014, annual Indian passport issuances stood at 83 lakh [1]. The current system is designed to support a much larger volume of applicants to meet the rising international demand for skilled labor.
These reforms coincide with a broader diplomatic push to secure better mobility and employment terms for Indians in key economic hubs. The recent visits to Europe and the G7 summit served as platforms to highlight the capabilities of the Indian workforce to international partners.
“Global demand for Indian talent is growing.”
The emphasis on 'passport revolution' suggests that India views administrative efficiency as a critical component of its foreign policy. By treating the ease of travel and documentation as a strategic asset, India is attempting to transition from providing low-cost labor to exporting high-value talent, thereby increasing the remittance flow and strengthening its bilateral ties with Western economies.
