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.
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.
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.
The Ministry was merged with the Ministry of External Affairs on 7 January 2016. 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.
Structure The Ministry had four functional service divisions to handle its services: Diaspora Services Financial Services Emigration Services Management Services
The 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).
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.
Cabinet Ministers Note: I/C Independent Charge
PortraitMinisterTerm of officePolitical party MinistryPrime Minister From To Period Minister of Non-Resident Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler(Minister of State, I/C) 23 May 2004 9 September 2004 Indian National Congress Manmohan I Manmohan Singh Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler(Minister of State, I/C) 9 September 2004 10 August 2005 Indian National Congress Manmohan I Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh(Prime Minister) 10 August 2005 18 November 2005 Oscar Fernandes(Minister of State, I/C) 18 November 2005 29 January 2006 Vayalar Ravi 29 January 2006 22 May 2009 28 May 2009 26 May 2014 Manmohan II Sushma Swaraj 27 May 2014 7 January 2016 Bharatiya Janata Party Modi I Narendra Modi
Ministers of State
PortraitMinisterTerm of officePolitical party MinistryPrime Minister From To Period V. K. Singh 26 May 2014 7 January 2016 Bharatiya Janata Party Modi I Narendra Modi
See also Indian diaspora Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
Notes
References
External links Official website Previous official website archive dated 4 March 2016