Government Clarifies No Use of Indian Aircraft for Repatriation Since 2020

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has clarified in the Rajya Sabha that no Indian Air Force or chartered aircraft have been hired for repatriating Indian immigrants since 2020. The United States, however, has used military planes to deport Indian nationals. The government's approach faced criticism over alleged mistreatment of deportees.

The Centre has made it clear in the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of External Affairs has not utilized any Indian Air Force, chartered, or commercial civilian aircraft to repatriate Indian immigrants since 2020. This was disclosed by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita in response to a question raised by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale.

Gokhale sought details regarding instances where the Ministry employed IAF or civilian aircraft for deportation of Indian immigrants from 2020 onward. Margherita stated, 'The Ministry of External Affairs has not engaged any Indian Air Force or Chartered/Commercial Civilian aircraft for deportation purposes since 2020. Nevertheless, for certain exceptional cases, immigrants were helped to return via commercial flights based on need.'

Inquiring further, Gokhale asked about countries using military aircraft for deportations. Margherita responded, 'The United States has employed military aircraft for deporting Indians illegally residing in the US in 2025, previously using Chartered/Commercial aircraft for 15,564 deportations since 2009.' The opposition criticized these deportations as 'inhuman' and pointed to alleged ill-treatment of deportees.

(With inputs from agencies.)