LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 968
ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025
REMITTANCE RESTRICTIONS ON INDIAN TEACHERS IN MALDIVES
968. Shri Rajmohan Unnithan
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government is aware that Indian teachers in the Maldives are facing severe financial hardship due to stringent remittance ceilings, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any diplomatic engagement with the Maldives Monetary Authority is proposed to restore reasonable and lawful remittance levels; and
(c) if so, the timeline for initiating and concluding these bilateral discussions and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Yes, Maldives Monetary Authority allocates a limited amount of US Dollars per month to banks in Maldives to facilitate remittances abroad. This has impacted the ability of banks in Maldives to facilitate remittances beyond a certain limit for foreign nationals. Indian nationals, earning their salaries in local Maldivian currency (Maldivian Rufiyaa - MVR) have raised the issues faced due to the remittance cap. Indian nationals earning their salaries in US Dollars, however, do not face difficulties in remitting their money to India.
(b & c) The issue has been taken up with the Government of Maldives and the Maldives Monetary Authority, requesting their support in enhancing allocation of US Dollars to banks in Maldives. Due to these efforts, Maldives Monetary Authority has increased the Dollar allocations to SBI Male in November 2025, which has resulted in SBI increasing the remittance ceilings for those employed in education and health sector from USD 150 to USD 300.
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