Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) was a ministry of the Government of India. It was dedicated to all matters relating to the Indian diaspora around the world.

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Pravāsī Bhāratīya Kārya Mantrālay
Emblem of India
Ministry overview
FormedMay 2004 (2004-05)
Dissolved7 January 2016
Superseding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of India
HeadquartersAkbar Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi[1]
Websitewww.mea.gov.in/overseas-indian-affairs.htm

History

Ministry was established in May 2004 as the Ministry of Non-Resident Indians' Affairs. It was renamed as the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) in September 2004.[2]

Positioned as a ‘Services’ Ministry, it provided information, partnerships and facilitations for all matters related to Overseas Indians: Non-Resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin.[2]

The Ministry was merged with the Ministry of External Affairs on 7 January 2016.[3] The government said that the decision was taken in line with government's "overall objective of minimizing government and maximizing governance" and that it will help the government address duplication as well as unnecessary delays.[4]

Structure

The Ministry had four functional service divisions to handle its services:[2]

  • Diaspora Services
  • Financial Services
  • Emigration Services
  • Management Services

First two divisions were headed by Joint Secretaries. The Protector General of Emigrants (PGoE) headed the Overseas Employment Services Division. The Social Services Unit and the Management Services Unit were staffed with officers of the rank of Deputy Secretary. The Information Services Unit was headed by Senior Technical Director (NIC).[5]

The ministry also sponsored the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-resident Indian Day) established in 2003, when it also instituted the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.[6]

Ministers

The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs was the head of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.[7] The first minister was Jagdish Tytler who was initially the Minister of Non-Resident Indian Affairs and later became the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs.

Cabinet Ministers
  • Note: MoS, I/C – Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Portrait Minister
(Birth-Death)		 Term of office Political party Ministry Prime Minister
From To Period
Ministers of Non-Resident Indian Affairs (23 May 2004 – 9 September 2004)
Jagdish Tytler
(born 1944)
MP for Delhi Sadar
(MoS, I/C)		 23 May
2004		 9 September
2004		 109 days Indian National Congress Manmohan I Manmohan Singh
Ministers of Overseas Indian Affairs (9 September 2004 – 7 January 2016)
Jagdish Tytler
(born 1944)
MP for Delhi Sadar
(MoS, I/C)		 9 September
2004		 10 August
2005		 335 days Indian National Congress Manmohan I Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
(born 1932)
MP for Assam (Rajya Sabha)
(Prime Minister)[8]		 10 August
2005		 18 November
2005		 100 days
Oscar Fernandes
(1941–2021)
MP for Karnataka (Rajya Sabha)
(MoS, I/C)		 18 November
2005		 29 January
2006		 72 days
Vayalar Ravi
(born 1937)
MP for Kerala (Rajya Sabha)		 29 January
2006		 22 May
2009		 8 years, 117 days
28 May
2009		 26 May
2014		 Manmohan II
Sushma Swaraj
(1952–2019)
MP for Vidisha		 26 May
2014		 7 January
2016		 1 year, 226 days Bharatiya Janata Party Modi I Narendra Modi
Merged with Ministry of External Affairs.[9]

Ministers of State
Portrait Minister
(Birth-Death)		 Term of office Political party Ministry Prime Minister Cabinet Minister
From To Period
General
V. K. Singh (Retd.)
PVSM AVSM YSM ADC
(born 1950)
MP for Ghaziabad		 26 May
2014		 7 January
2016		 1 year, 226 days Bharatiya Janata Party Modi I Narendra Modi Sushma Swaraj
Merged with Ministry of External Affairs.

See also

References
  1. "Important Contacts". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  2. "An Overview". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  3. Sushma Swaraj [@SushmaSwaraj] (7 January 2016). "Hon'ble Prime Minister has kindly accepted my proposal. So MOIA will now be part of Ministry of External Affairs" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. "Government to merge overseas Indian affairs ministry with MEA - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. "About Us". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007.
  6. "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs website. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  7. "Former Ministers/Secretaries". Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016.
  8. "Council of Ministers" (PDF).
  9. Bureau, BW Online. "Ministry Of Overseas Indian Affairs Merged With External Affairs Ministry". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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