The 'Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)' is a nodal agency for the Overseas Indians (OIs), comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). It is the central point where overseas Indians, Diaspora associations, trade and industry, lawmakers, think-tanks and opinion builders, key stakeholders of society and governance, as well as State Governments can approach for getting information, partnerships and facilitation for all matters relating to overseas Indians. It is actively involved in developing capacity building programs in the States to respond better to the needs of Diaspora as well as potential emigrants and drawing up a roadmap for establishing their strong networks in India.

The Ministry aims to promote and nurture a mutually beneficial and organic relationship between India and overseas Indians, through its four functional service divisions:-

1. Diaspora Services Division

Deals with all the matters relating to Overseas Indians, such as, overseas citizenship matters; Pravasi Bharatiya Divas; Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards; admission of NRI/ PIO students to various educational, technical and cultural institutions in India; scholarships to NRI/PIO students in India; and new initiatives to promote interaction of overseas Indians with India in tourism, media, youth affairs, education, culture, etc.

2. Financial Services Division

Deals with all the matters relating to promotion of investment by various overseas Indians in India including innovative investments and policy initiatives consistent with the overall Government policies particularly in areas such as exclusive Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for Overseas Indians; interaction with the Investment Commission relating to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Overseas Indians; representation in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Foreign Investment Implementation Authority; as well as new initiatives for interaction by OIs in fields such as trade, health, science and technology, etc. In a nutshell, Ministry provides information and guidance to Overseas Indians on a wide range of subjects related to investment policies, emerging investment opportunities and other financial services.

3. Emigration Services Division

Deals with the matters relating to all emigration under the Emigration Act, 1983 from India to overseas countries and the return of emigrants. This division of Ministry is promoting capacity building in the States to meet the needs of potential emigrants in a more effective manner. Its responsibilities include formulation of policies for improving emigration management, proposing legislative changes, implementing emigration reforms including institutional changes and e-Governance, formulation of welfare schemes for emigrants and promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation in international migration.

4. Social Services Division

Deals with the matters relating to addressing the problems arising out of marriages with overseas Indians as well as creating awareness amongst prospective brides and their families towards precautions that need to be taken in such marriages. The Ministry provides legal counselling and financial assistance to affected Indian women. It has undertaken some vital steps like:- (i) compulsory registration of marriages; (ii) organizing awareness campaign to educate prospective brides and their families; (iii) constitution of Inter-ministerial sub-committee to discuss the clauses that could be inserted in the bilateral agreements between India and the foreign countries to protect the interests of victims of failed and fraudulent marriages; etc.

Within these functional services, the Ministry has also set up an 'Overseas Indian Facilitation Center (OIFC)' as a not-for-profit trust, in public-private partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Center act as ‘one- stop shop’ for serving the interests of the Indians located abroad, like Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin. It aims to bring the Indian States, Indian Business and potential Overseas Investors on the same platform as well as facilitate the investors to identify the investment opportunities. It has a mandate to cover two broad areas, namely, 'Investment Facilitation' and 'Knowledge Networking'. The main objectives of the OIFC are to:-

• promote overseas Indian investment into India and facilitate business partnership, by giving authentic and real time information;
• establish and maintain a Diaspora Knowledge Network (DKN) by creating a database of Overseas Indians, who would act as knowledge Diaspora and whose knowledge resources could be utilized by using ICT platform;
• function as a clearinghouse for all investment related information, which would be done by processing information on a real time basis through ICT platform;
• assist States in India to project investment opportunities to overseas Indians in the infrastructure and social sectors;
• provide a host of advisory services to PIOs and NRIs, which could include matters such as consular questions, stay in India, investment and financial issues, etc.;
• provide a wide range of consultative, advisory and handholding services to interested Overseas Indians, who want to invest in India in broad sectors like capital market investment, manufacturing and service sectors investment, taxation issue, real estate investment, etc.
  

Another important organisation in the country is the 'Ministry of Finance' which deals with financial aspects relating to overseas Indians. It is undertaking several policy measures and initiatives to make the environment in India attractive for investors, through the agencies like Investment Commission, Foreign Investment Promotion Board, etc.

There is a 'NRI Cell' under the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry which looks after the work relating to the subjects like, Investment policy for Non-Resident Indians; Indian Investment Centre; Foreign Institutional Investors Portfolio Investment Policy; Policy in Overseas Venture Capital Investments; Euro-Equity/Foreign Currency Convertible bonds; and Policy on foreign investments in Rupee denominated capital market convertible securities.

Indian Investment Centre is an autonomous body functioning under the Ministry of Finance, promoting foreign private investment including NRI investment. It is a nodal agency for investments by NRIs, PIOs and Overseas Corporate Bodies. It provides guidance and information on Government of India investment policies, procedures, availability of infrastructural facilities, incentives, investment opportunities and extends related advisory services. That is, it is functioning as a single window agency for projects with NRI investment and provides all necessary services for setting up such projects.

Further, there is the 'Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)' which is responsible for all aspects of external relations, that is, relationship of India with foreign countries, their embassies/ consulates, etc.

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