‘Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European countries.’ Comment with examples. (UPSC 2020)

The Indian diaspora has emerged as an influential political and economic actor in the US and Europe, aided by education, entrepreneurship and high social mobility.

• Politics: In the US, Indian Americans hold seats in Congress, such as Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthi; figures like Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley show their reach in national politics. In Europe, Rishi Sunak as UK Prime Minister and Leo Varadkar in Ireland reflect their rise to top office, while the community is an important vote bank in Britain.
• Economy: Indian-origin professionals and entrepreneurs lead firms, create start-ups and dominate sectors like IT, finance and healthcare. In the UK, they are among the most successful ethnic groups and a major part of the NHS workforce.

Thus, the diaspora is both a bridge and a stakeholder in Western politics and growth.