India’s global footprint is set to increase if the BJP is voted back to power. The foreign ministry is planning to open 19 more missions and posts abroad, increase India’s passport coverage to 10 per cent of the population and open ‘videsh bhawans’ in select state capitals.
All this is part of a ‘100 days’ and ‘5-year plan’ being drawn up by all ministries on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country’s foreign policy has been a highlight in the last decade, especially under foreign minister S Jaishankar.
Sources told News18 that the foreign ministry is now working on strengthening India’s image as ‘vishwa bandhu’ (world’s friend). The Centre is also planning effective and multifaceted engagement with the growing Indian diaspora abroad as well as sharing good governance practices with countries of the ‘Global South’.
The highlight of the plan is to expand India’s diplomatic footprint by opening 19 more missions or posts abroad in the next five years, including opening six new missions and two consulates in the first 100 days of the new government. The other plan is to increase passport coverage to 10 per cent of the population from 7.5 per cent, and offer next-generation e-passports in DigiLocker by leveraging digital technology.
The foreign ministry is also planning to open ‘videsh bhawans’ in select state capitals, which will be integrated buildings combining mainly the passport offices with the Offices of Protector of Emigrants, ICCR regional offices and MEA branch secretariats. The focus will also be on safe international migration and the mobility of skilled workers from India.
The government is also planning to open new pre-departure orientation training for such workers – 44 additional centres are being envisioned. The ministry is planning to further enhance its ‘Project PRAYAS’ (promoting regular and assisted migration for youth and skilled professionals).
The idea is to create better opportunities for overseas employment, skill mobility and regular migration by strengthening the regulatory framework, sources said.
The foreign ministry is also planning to integrate its passport seva project (PSV) with other government digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). Extradition treaties with countries like Italy and Morocco are also a priority for the foreign ministry in Modi 3.0.
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