With India hosting the world’s largest overseas population, a fresh call for dual citizenship is gaining momentum among diaspora leaders who believe the move could significantly boost the nation’s global influence and economic growth.
According to official estimates, more than 3.5 crore Indians live abroad, making Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) a powerful global community. Reflecting this growing sentiment, IndUS Canada, a collective representing 79 major Indian-origin organisations across the United States and Canada, has once again urged the Union Government to introduce dual citizenship or substantially upgrade the rights available under the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) framework.
The forum’s president, Vikram Bajwa, described dual citizenship as far more than a legal reform. He called it a “strategic transformation” that could lift India’s international standing and deepen long-term engagement with its global population. Citing figures from the Ministry of External Affairs, the forum noted that over 80 lakh Overseas Indians currently reside in the US and Canada alone, making them one of India’s most valuable strategic resources.
Bajwa pointed out that despite their financial strength and professional expertise, many NRIs remain hesitant to make long-term commitments in India due to legal limitations under the existing OCI system. He argued that dual citizenship would offer the security, stability and confidence required for larger investments in manufacturing, technology, real estate, startups and infrastructure.
He also highlighted that several nations — including Israel, Canada, the UK, Australia and Pakistan — already leverage dual citizenship to expand their diplomatic reach and economic influence. “If these countries can fully empower their diaspora, there is no reason India should depend only on a lifelong visa model,” he said.
Calling it a “future-ready reform,” Bajwa added that dual citizenship aligns directly with Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat. He described the policy as a forward-looking step that could reshape India’s development trajectory and strengthen its global positioning.
Addressing present-day geopolitical uncertainties, Bajwa noted that recent tariff disputes and international tensions have created financial insecurity for many Indian-origin professionals, especially in the United States. Dual citizenship, he said, would offer legal resilience and ensure uninterrupted economic participation in India regardless of global volatility.
He further expressed concern over growing safety challenges faced by Indian communities in parts of Canada, particularly among families from Punjab. According to him, dual citizenship would provide stronger emotional assurance, legal clarity and institutional protection for such communities.
Beyond economic gains, the forum stressed that the policy would drastically enhance India’s soft power. Greater mobility, simplified compliance and deeper legal belonging would encourage NRIs to contribute more actively through tourism, philanthropy, education, research and community-led development projects.
In the technology and innovation space, dual citizenship could also accelerate knowledge exchange, global research partnerships and cross-border entrepreneurship, helping India advance as a high-tech global leader.
Urging swift policy consideration, IndUS Canada called on the government and national leadership to recognise dual citizenship as a catalyst for unlocking the full potential of the Indian diaspora. The forum concluded that the move is not merely about granting privileges but about strategically strengthening India’s economic, cultural and diplomatic footprint worldwide.
