The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday informed Parliament that the government has not observed any significant rise in the deaths of Indian nationals living or working abroad. It stated that 54,511 mortal remains of Indians were repatriated to the country between 2016 and 2025.
The clarification came through a written response by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to a question raised in the Lok Sabha regarding procedures, delays, and challenges associated with bringing bodies back to India.
Repatriation Timelines and Challenges
According to the data presented before the House, the number of mortal remains transported to India stood at 4,167 in 2016; 4,222 in 2017; 4,205 in 2018; 5,291 in 2019; 5,321 in 2020; 5,834 in 2021; 5,946 in 2022; 6,532 in 2023; 7,096 in 2024; and 5,897 in 2025 (till October).
The MEA said Indian Missions follow a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to assist families, coordinate with local authorities, and ensure timely transportation in line with local laws. However, it clarified that no fixed timeline can be prescribed for repatriation, as the duration depends on the cause of death, host-country processes, documentation, and the availability of next of kin to provide consent.
Natural death cases typically take between three and 14 days to process. In contrast, cases involving unnatural deaths often take longer due to police investigations, autopsies, or difficulties in establishing identity. In certain instances, DNA profiling has been required.
The government also flagged major challenges faced by families, including high transport costs, delays in securing local police or medical reports, and confusion over required documentation.
To address these concerns, Missions have been directed to prioritise such cases and issue No Objection Certificates (NOC) even on holidays. Dedicated 24/7 consular helplines have also been made available for immediate support.
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) continues to assist economically weaker families unable to bear transportation expenses. The MEA added that every Mission is equipped with sufficient consular staff to handle emergencies and coordinate with airlines and local authorities to expedite repatriation.
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