Every year, nearly 700,000 Indians pack their bags and head abroad for work. In 2024 alone, at least 18.5 million Indians were working overseas – more than half in the Gulf, building cities and serving industries, while over 5.4 million Indian Americans were in the United States, powering its technology and healthcare sectors. Last year, these workers sent home a record $129.4 billion in remittances, quietly underwriting India’s economic stability.
These numbers are staggering but an even greater question is: Can India transform its greatest asset – over 600 million people below the age of 25 – from a demographic advantage into strategic diplomatic capital?
The answer may lie in a little-noticed piece of legislation that was recently unveiled and is currently open for public input till November 7: the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025.
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