India Agrees To Take Back Illegal UK Migrants In Return For 3,000 Worker Visas A Year

The migration pact comes after the two countries announced 1 billion pounds ($1.39 billion) of private-sector investment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson | AFP

With a view to increasing employment opportunities for Indians in the UK, India has signed an accord with the former on migration and mobility and agreed to take back any of its citizens living illegally in the UK.

Both the countries signed an accord with an aim to deepen economic, cultural, and other ties following the UK's departure from the European Union.

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"The pact will offer employment opportunities for 3,000 young Indian professionals annually, in return for India agreeing to take back any of its citizens who are living illegally in the UK," news agency Reuters quoted foreign ministry official Sandeep Chakravorty.

The agreement on migration is followed by the announcement of 1 billion pounds ($1.39 billion) of private-sector investment. In fact, discussion on a full trade deal is expected to begin in the autumn.

"It is our solemn duty that Indian nationals who are undocumented, or are in distress abroad and not being given nationality or residence permits, have to be taken back," Chakravorty said.

According to Britain's interior ministry, the deal is focussed on attracting "the best and brightest, and supporting people coming to the UK through legal routes, while stopping the abuse of the system and speeding up the removal of those who have no right to be in the UK".

Migration has remained a bone of contention between the two countries, and a similar proposal didn't fructify in 2018 due to disagreements. At that point, London cited more than 100,000 Indians living illegally in the UK even as the New Delhi didn't agree to this number.

A huge number of Indians opt for higher studies in the UK every year, and India has already raised the lack of employment opportunities available to them after finishing their education.

Meanwhile, Narendra Modi on a call with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the status of two Indian fugitive tycoons, Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, who have left the country and are wanted on fraud charges are believed to be in the UK.