UPSC Mains 2026 · GS II · Q19 · 15 marks · 250 words

“India’s global diaspora acts as a living bridge, as a critical economic factor and knowledge network in transforming cultural heritage into geopolitical influence and strategic leverage worldwide.” Critically examine this statement.

हिन्दी में

“भारत का वैश्विक प्रवासी समुदाय एक जीवंत सेतु की तरह कार्य करता है, वह एक महत्त्वपूर्ण आर्थिक कारक और ज्ञान-तंत्र भी है, जो सांस्कृतिक विरासत को विश्वभर में भू-राजनीतिक प्रभाव और रणनीतिक सामर्थ्य में रूपांतरित करता है ।” इस कथन का समालोचनात्मक परीक्षण कीजिए ।

Indian Diaspora

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “"Indian diaspora is the true and permanent ambassadors of the country." In this context bring out the significance of Indian diaspora with suitable egs.”

Ghazalpreet KaurAIR 529 · CSE 2022 · 205 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a restatement

Indians have huge presence in almost all parts of the world. Indian diaspora are the repositories of India's culture, society etc. They are true and permanent ambassadors.

Indians have the second largest diaspora in the world after China.

Body · points

Significance

  1. promoting culture of India and build India's global image of soft power :- i) Indian festivals like Diwali celebrated in U.S. President's house. ii) Hindi adopted as state language by many countries. Eg → UAE. iii) religious pluralism → Buddhist heritage convention by India in SCO

  2. boosting Tourism → Religious Tourism, Medical tourism, Spiritual Tourism etc. brings foreign currencies inflow.

  3. Remittances = According to UNDESA's International Migration stock → India is the largest receiver of remittances which boosted growth and development.

  4. Push for investment →

  • rich NRIs bring huge investments in many social sectors.
  • lobbying in their own countries in favour of India's policies → recent CAATSA waiver by U.S.A.
  1. Global standing for India → huge technical force of doctors, engineers etc. boost India's global stature. Eg: → Rishi Sunak in U.K. as politician → Satya Nadela. (etc)

Close · a summary

Diaspora are the huge power of any nation to boost its growth and development in the today's globalised and interlinked world.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper II, Q19. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.