India's Evacuation Capabilities
MEA and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations
India has developed significant experience in evacuating its citizens from conflict zones. Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEOs) are coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Indian embassies and consulates, using a combination of chartered commercial flights and Indian Navy/Air Force assets. India's largest such operation was Vande Bharat Mission (2020) during COVID-19, which evacuated approximately 6.8 million Indians from 149 countries.
- Major Indian evacuation operations: Operation Sukoon (Lebanon, 2006 — 2,280 evacuated), Operation Rahat (Yemen, 2015 — ~5,600 evacuated including 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries), Operation Devi Shakti (Afghanistan, 2021 — ~600 evacuated), Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023 — ~3,862 evacuated)
- MEA's Emergency Control Room: activated during crises; coordinates with embassies, airlines, and defence forces
- eMigrate system: mandatory portal for emigration clearance for Indian workers going to "Emigration Check Required" (ECR) passport countries (most Gulf states fall in ECR category for low-skilled workers)
- Indian workers in conflict zones hold ECR passports; approximately 40 lakh (4 million) Indian workers in UAE alone
- Airspace closures complicate evacuation: without open airspace, even government-chartered evacuation flights cannot operate — Navy and merchant shipping may be the only alternative
● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen April 14, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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