External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today said that the government has addressed around 1 lakh 38 thousand grievances in the last 3 years via the MADAD portal. Speaking at India’s World Annual Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, Dr Jaishankar said that the cess on passports collected from the Indian Community Welfare Fund has benefited around 2 lakh 38 thousand people in distress. He further highlighted that obtaining a passport in India is no longer a challenge like it used to be.

He added that in the past 10 years, people can now get it from over 5 hundred places in the country. Talking about preventing illegal migration, Dr Jaishankar said that illegal and irregular mobility is against India’s interest but it also requires cooperation from other countries. He called for greater transparency and understanding to streamline proof of documentation and deportation. He added that the 21 agreements regarding migration and mobility signed by the Ministry of External Affairs since 2014 have been very effective.

The External Affairs Minister also talked about the political and social backlash against immigration in various countries. He underlined that in many cases, the actual crisis has nothing to do with the mobility of the incoming workforce. He added that the US and Europe very consciously and deliberately allowed their businesses to relocate. Dr Jaishankar noted that the use of talent across boundaries is mutually beneficial and these countries would actually be the net losers if they erected too many roadblocks to the flow of talent.

Speaking about talent migration, Dr Jaishankar said the people have the freedom to look for better prospects as part of a democratic society. He highlighted that the best way to prevent this is simply by creating opportunities at home by addressing both the demand and supply sides.