Once APJ Kalam was addressing a gathering of school children in Anand, Gujrat in which one of the students asked a question about Indian war weapon’s Capability to which he asked him why this doubt arose in your mind. The student said he read report in the media which led him to think so. APJ further said “This is a unique characteristic of our country to belittle our capabilities. It may even be genetic”. India can design, develop and produce any type of missile and any type of nuclear weapon. This is a capability only four countries in the World have. You remove all the doubts from your mind” mentioned in his most popular book “Ignited Minds”.
As per Min.of External Affairs report there are approx.13 million Indian national abroad. The UN World Migration Report 2024 states nearly 18 million people born in India are living in other countries. When including people of Indian origin who are citizens of other countries the total no is over 35 million. Between 2020 to 2022 a large no of Indians went abroad for work were over 2.8 million. You don’t need to look far to see India’s imprint across the globe. They are showing their presence in 32 countries (Wikipedia) Every year, 2.5 million (25 lakh) Indians immigrate overseas, making India the nation with the highest annual number of emigrants in the world.
The reasons behind the exceptional success of the Indian diaspora in overseas countries, often perceived as excelling more abroad than in their home country, are a complex interplay of systemic issues in India, high-quality merit-based talent selection by host nations, and the inherent qualities of the Indian professional. Firstly, the phenomenon is driven by 'push' factors from India, primarily the immense internal competition, limited job opportunities for a massive talent pool, and the slow pace of upward socio-economic mobility, which remains an arduous climb for many due to structural and bureaucratic hurdles. The lack of adequate funding for research and development and a sometimes conformist, hierarchical 'yes boss' work culture often stifle the innovation and independent thinking necessary for global leadership roles. These conditions create a "brain drain," where India's most ambitious and highly educated professionals pre-vetted through one of the world's most rigorous and competitive education systems like the IITs and IIMs seek environments that better match their skill and ambition.
The 'pull' factors from overseas countries, especially the United States 5.4 million Indians (TOI July 22,2025) United Kingdom1.86 million Indians, Canada2.88 million Indians, and Australia 976,000, are crucial: they offer significantly higher wages, better living standards, and, most importantly, a more meritocratic and process-driven work culture. These environments reward knowledge, intelligence, and analytical thinking directly, valuing innovation and an independent mindset, which are attributes that India's education system inherently trains, yet often fails to utilize domestically. When it comes to the specific qualities or top priority parameters for which they are chosen, the selection is predominantly a matter of prerequisites and merit. The top parameters are knowledge and intelligence, manifested as technical proficiency and deep domain expertise in high-demand sectors like Information Technology, Engineering, Healthcare, and Finance. Indian professionals' command over the English language, a legacy of India's colonial history, serves as a significant, immediate advantage for seamless integration into the Anglophone global professional landscape. Furthermore, Dedication and an exceptional work ethic are highly valued; Indians are widely regarded as being hard-working, flexible, and adaptable to diverse global settings, sometimes being seen by host nations as employees who are generally willing to follow instructions and work diligently without questioning the status quo, which some studies suggest can contribute to them facing less initial skepticism than professionals from other nations. The term cheap labour is largely an outdated, historical reference to the unskilled indentured labour of the colonial era. For the contemporary, successful diaspora, this is a misnomer, as they often rank among the highest-earning immigrant groups globally, reflecting the high value placed on their specialized skills and expertise. The intangible qualities of Integrity and Trust are also factors, as the diaspora's collective success enhances India's global reputation, fostering stronger international trade and business networks. In essence, the success of Indian professionals abroad is not a matter of a single quality, but a powerful confluence: a high-pressure home environment effectively pre-selects a resilient and technically superior talent pool, and a clear, merit-focused, resource-rich host environment then allows that proven talent to fully realize its potential, leading to success that is directly commensurate with their merit and exceptional prerequisites. This shift from the chaotic, competitive environment of India to the structured, reward-based systems abroad is the primary key that unlocks the latent potential of this ambitious, skilled demographic.
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