Permanent Mission of India
New York
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IMRF 2026 Side Event

 Leveraging Digital Innovation in Migration Governance - The e-Migrate Experience of India

Statement by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs
May 7, 2026

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, 

It is a privilege to address this gathering on the margins of the second International Migration Review Forum, as we come together to reflect on one of the defining features of our time : global mobility and the shared responsibility to ensure that migration remains safe, orderly, and regular.

2. India’s migration story is both vast and dynamic. With a diaspora of over 34 million people spread across more than 200 countries, India’s global community serves as a living bridge, connecting economies, cultures, and ideas. Their contributions through remittances, investments, and knowledge exchange continue to play a vital role not only in India’s development, but also in the prosperity of the societies they are part of.

3. Over the years, India has adopted a holistic approach to migration governance, one that places the welfare, protection, and empowerment of emigrants at its core. This approach recognizes that migration is not merely a movement of people, but a continuum that spans pre-departure preparation, safe transit, dignified employment, and eventual return and reintegration.

4. In line with this, several welfare measures have been put in place - from emergency assistance through the Indian Community Welfare Fund, to mandatory insurance coverage under the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana; from round-the-clock consular support via the MADAD portal, to capacity-building initiatives such as Skill India International Centres; and importantly, Pre-Departure Orientation Training that equips our workers to make informed decisions before they embark on their journeys.

5. A key pillar underpinning this transformation has been the strategic use of digital innovation. Digital technologies are no longer just enablers, they are reshaping governance itself. They allow us to move from reactive systems to anticipatory, transparent, and inclusive frameworks that serve citizens more effectively.

6. It is in this context that India’s e-Migrate platform stands out as a pioneering initiative. The platform was established in 2014 to assist mostly blue-collar workers travelling to Emigration Check Required (ECR) nations. It was recently upgraded to a more robust, user-friendly version. The e-Migrate portal provides an end-to-end digital ecosystem that enhances transparency in recruitment, enables verification of employers and recruitment agents, and ensures the integrity of employment contracts. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and strengthening accountability, eMigrate 2.0 seeks to safeguard the interests of migrant workers while improving efficiency for all stakeholders.

7. The platform integrates secure documentation, verifies employment offers with destination countries prior to departure, incorporates zero-cost digital payment solutions, and offers multilingual support 24/7, ensuring protection while facilitating mobility.

8. The platform functions as an end-to-end ecosystem allowing recruitment either directly by registered Foreign Employers or through registered Recruiting Agents (RAs). Foreign employers can register on the eMigrate portal through the concerned Indian Mission to recruit Indian workers in a streamlined and regulated manner. Once registered, they can raise their manpower demand online either through authorized Recruitment Agents (RAs) or by applying directly for a permit to recruit. Similarly, Recruiting Agencies can also register on the portal, ensuring that emigration clearances for overseas recruitment is conducted through a transparent and approved system.

9. A key pillar of the system is the licensing and monitoring of Recruiting Agents (RAs). Only authorized registered agents, approved and periodically renewed through the portal are permitted to facilitate overseas recruitment. This digitally maintained list of authorized RAs, publicly accessible on the portal, enhances transparency and allows workers to verify agents before engaging with them, significantly reducing fraudulent practices. Currently, we have around 2,98,000 (Two hundred ninety eight thousand) Registered Foreign Employers and 2,457 (Two thousand four hundred fifty seven) Active Recruiting Agents registered on the eMigrate portal.

10. More importantly, e-Migrate does not function in isolation. It has been integrated with a broader digital ecosystem, linking platforms for skilling, employment, documentation, service delivery as well as online grievance redressal. Through its convergence with systems such as national job portals, digital skilling hubs, secure document repositories, and multilingual interfaces, the platform ensures that migrants are better prepared and better protected throughout their journey.

11. To further strengthen accessibility and inclusivity, eMigrate is now integrated with Bhashini platform, India’s AI-powered language translation ecosystem. Through this integration, the portal is becoming more user-friendly for workers across linguistic backgrounds, enabling them to access information and navigate procedures in multiple Indian languages. This is particularly important in a country as diverse as India, where language barriers can often limit awareness and informed decision-making.

12. The eMigrate Mobile App has also been developed which allows the stakeholders to have easy access to major services available on the portal, including tracking of application status, obtaining list of registered as well as unregistered recruiting agents, filing grievances etc.

13. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure reflects a larger vision, one where technology bridges gaps, streamlines access, and brings governance closer to the people. The use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, further enhances our ability to deliver personalized services, detect risks, and respond proactively to the needs of our nationals. This commitment was also reflected in India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, which underscored the importance of international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement in advancing human-centric AI governance. Our efforts are anchored in inclusivity, accessibility, and trust, to ensure that even the most vulnerable migrants can benefit from these systems.

14. Today’s event is an opportunity not only to share India’s experience, but also to learn from the diverse practices of Member States. Migration is inherently transnational, and its governance must be rooted in cooperation and mutual learning. Through exchange of knowledge and best practices, we can collectively strengthen systems that uphold dignity, protect rights, and unlock the full potential of migration.

15. I look forward to the discussions ahead and to the insights that will emerge from this exchange.

Thank you.