The Minister of Foreign Affairs said the Immigration Act of 1983 was intended to address the requirements of specific geography in a particular era.

Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar launched a global talent visit to the India (GATI) Foundation in New Delhi on May 6, 2025. |Picture source: X/DR. S. Jaishankar via ANI

The government is conducting research on the Immigration Act of 1983 to adapt it to 21^Yingshi-The reality and risks faced by Indian immigration in international mobility. Speaking at an event on Tuesday (May 6, 2025), Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar argued that he supported Indians’ engagement with other economies and employment that suited their skills and talents, and said the government was working to promote “legal mobility” and would “strongly discourage” non-legal avenues to international mobility.

“Currently, liquidity is largely regulated by the Immigration Act of 1983, which aims to meet the requirements of specific geographical requirements of a certain era. However, times have changed and our vision has expanded. We need to be more facilitative and aware of new possibilities, even with the focus on government, even with visits in India. (GATI) Foundation in Delhi.

The Immigration Act of 1983 stipulates immigration to Indian citizens for reasons related to employment. Officials pointed out that the bill was intended to adjust India's economy to a post-boom period, when the Gulf economy provided a large number of blue-collar and white-collar jobs for Indian citizens. However, India has faced challenges such as illegal recruiting staff for years, who often endanger the safety and security of Indian citizens who want to travel abroad to seek employment. In addition, the image of the Indians seeking work has also changed.

Mr Jaishankar points to Italy, Japan, Spain, Malaysia, Israel, Mauritius and other countries with an interest in hiring Indian professionals in blue-collar and white-collar positions and describes these opportunities as “the tip of the iceberg.” He recalled the meeting with European Foreign Ministers and said they expressed their willingness to “display an appetite for utilizing our human resource pool as urgently and effectively as possible.”

“My shortcoming point is that there is a demand in the world, the availability of India and the basic foundation for enabling Indian talents to gain global access. Now, how they perform, what scale will this be – I think it depends on us,” Mr. Jaishankar markets Indian talent and skills for the global market.

His remarks coincide with the launch The highest geopolitical risk report 2025 Through KPMG, a leading consulting agency, India has been observed to have a demographic advantage, especially as the Western workforce ages. KPMG's report says India is one of the few countries that can “export talent” but warns New Delhi will have to drive “strengthening global mobility and immigration restrictions”. It also calls for “emergency high skills and reshaping” of the Indian workforce if it must stand out among global competitors.