LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1074
ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025
MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION AND VISA FRAUD
1074. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to curb illegal migration syndicates and visa fraud cases targeting Indian citizens, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, in view of recent MEA advisories on countries such as Iran;
(b) if so, the coordination mechanisms established between the Ministry, State Governments, and law enforcement agencies to dismantle illegal recruitment networks and prevent fraudulent overseas employment practices;
(c) the initiatives undertaken, including awareness campaigns, workshops, and digital platforms such as the e-Migrate portal, to promote safe and legal migration; and
(d) the outcomes achieved and future measures proposed to strengthen border controls, monitor migration patterns and enhance cooperation with international agencies to protect Indian migrants abroad?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) Government accords highest priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding for employment abroad. As and when reports of illegal migration syndicates and visa fraud cases as well as complaints against illegal agents/dubious firms luring Indian youth in false recruitment offers through various channels are received, such matters are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution under the relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislation in place including the ones enacted by some State Governments.
Government of India has taken multiple steps to prevent such incidents. It has issued regular advisories cautioning Indian nationals against fraudulent job offers and unauthorized recruiting agents and emphasized the need to verify employment credentials through Indian Missions/Posts abroad in the respective countries. Government of India has also enhanced the eMigrate platform, which brings together recruiting agents, foreign employers, and emigrants into a unified digital ecosystem. In the cyber domain, action is also taken against illegal recruiting agents in association with the Ministry of Home Affairs and State Police authorities. Requests to take down social media posts of illegal Recruiting Agents from all over India have been regularly shared with the concerned authorities.
Ministry also issues advisories through eMigrate portal, social media handles and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent the same. A list of unregistered agents in the country has also been notified on the eMigrate portal. The awareness campaign on safe and legal migration through eMigrate portal is carried out by the Ministry across the country from time to time by conducting workshops, trainings, information sessions, digital campaigns for media groups, police officials and law enforcement agencies, local administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs and general public. During these sessions awareness on emigration regulations, schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT), eMigrate portal and various advisories issued by Indian Embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders to job seekers, and advise them to verify all antecedents of Recruiting Agents before accepting any kind of employment offer and not be enticed and entrapped in the fraudulent job offers.
*****