What Happened
- As West Asia experienced renewed conflict in early 2026 — with Israeli-US airstrikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026 — questions arose about India's capacity and plans to evacuate the large Indian diaspora living in the region.
- India launched Operation Sindhu in mid-2025, evacuating 4,415 Indian nationals from Iran (3,597) and Israel (818) via 19 special flights including three Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft; evacuation routes went through Armenia, Turkmenistan (from Iran) and Jordan, Egypt (from Israel).
- As of early March 2026, airspace restrictions and active hostilities prevented a new large-scale airlift; the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed special relief flights from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to assist stranded Indians.
- India's track record in evacuating citizens from conflict zones spans over three decades — from the Kuwait airlift of 1990 to Operation Kaveri in Sudan (2023) — making it among the world's most experienced nations in diaspora rescue operations.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Diaspora: Scale and Distribution
India has the world's largest diaspora — estimated at over 32 million people of Indian origin (PIOs and Non-Resident Indians/NRIs) spread across more than 190 countries. The Gulf region — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain — hosts approximately 9 million Indian workers, predominantly in construction, healthcare, domestic work, and the hospitality sector. These workers are a critical source of remittances: India received approximately $120 billion in remittances in 2023-24, the highest of any country globally. The welfare and protection of this diaspora is thus both a humanitarian and economic imperative.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has a dedicated "Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV)" division and an "Indian Community Welfare Fund" (ICWF) for emergency assistance to distressed Indians abroad
- NRI = Indian citizen living abroad; PIO/OCI = person of Indian origin who may hold foreign citizenship (OCI card holders are treated as NRI for most purposes since 2015 merger)
- The Emigration Act, 1983 governs emigration of Indian workers to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries — most Gulf states are ECR countries, requiring clearance for unskilled workers
- India's remittance receipts: ~$120 billion (2023-24), constituting approximately 3% of GDP
Connection to this news: The large Indian population in West Asia — including Iran and Israel — creates both the necessity and the political imperative for India to maintain robust evacuation capabilities and diplomatic channels even in adversarial environments.
India's Major Evacuation Operations: A Comparative Overview
India has conducted several large-scale evacuation operations since 1990, developing an increasingly sophisticated logistical and diplomatic playbook. These operations demonstrate the coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Navy, and Air India in emergency extraction scenarios.
- Kuwait Airlift (1990): Largest airlift in aviation history — 176,000 Indians evacuated in ~500 flights via Jordan; Air India entered Guinness World Records; triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait (August 2, 1990)
- Operation Rahat (2015) — Yemen: ~5,600 people evacuated (including 1,947 foreign nationals from 41 countries) from Aden and Sana'a using Navy ships and IAF aircraft; conducted amid Saudi-led coalition strikes against Houthi rebels
- Operation Ganga (2022) — Ukraine: 23,000+ Indians repatriated from Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Slovakia via special flights; launched February 26, 2022 following Russian invasion
- Operation Kaveri (2023) — Sudan: 3,584 Indians evacuated in 9 days from Khartoum following Sudan Army-RSF conflict; used Navy ships and IAF aircraft; completed via Port Sudan
- Operation Sindhu (2025) — Iran/Israel: 4,415 evacuated (3,597 from Iran, 818 from Israel) via 19 flights including 3 IAF C-17s
- Operation Ajay (2023) — Israel: 1,392 Indians repatriated in the immediate aftermath of Hamas October 7 attacks
Connection to this news: Each successive operation has built India's logistical muscle and diplomatic network for future evacuations; the 2026 West Asia crisis tests these capabilities in an environment of active airspace closures and multi-front hostilities.
Indian Air Force Strategic Airlift: C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military strategic airlifter used for long-range rapid delivery of troops and cargo. India acquired 10 C-17s (2013–2014) under a government-to-government deal with the United States, making the IAF one of the largest non-US operators of the aircraft. The C-17's combination of long range, large payload, and ability to operate from austere airstrips has made it central to India's humanitarian and evacuation operations.
- Payload: 77,519 kg (cargo); can carry up to 188 paratroopers or large military vehicles
- Range: ~10,000 km with full payload; intercontinental without refuelling (with a smaller payload)
- India operates 10 C-17s based at Air Force Station Hindan (Ghaziabad, UP)
- IAF C-17s have been used in: Operation Rahat (Yemen, 2015), Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022), Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023), Operation Sindhu (2025), Turkiye earthquake relief (2023), COVID repatriation (2020)
- India's C-17 fleet forms part of its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capability, acknowledged in India's military doctrine
Connection to this news: Three IAF C-17s were used in Operation Sindhu (2025) to evacuate Indians from Iran via alternative routing through Armenia; the capability to operate around hostile airspace is a tested skill that will be needed again in 2026.
Key Facts & Data
- India's diaspora: 32 million+ people of Indian origin across 190+ countries (world's largest)
- Gulf diaspora: ~9 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain
- India's remittances: ~$120 billion (2023-24) — world's highest recipient
- Kuwait Airlift (1990): 176,000 people, ~500 flights — Guinness World Record for largest airlift
- Operation Rahat (2015, Yemen): ~5,600 evacuated including 1,947 foreign nationals from 41 countries
- Operation Ganga (2022, Ukraine): 23,000+ Indians repatriated
- Operation Kaveri (2023, Sudan): 3,584 Indians, 9 days
- Operation Sindhu (2025, Iran/Israel): 4,415 evacuated via 19 flights including 3 IAF C-17s
- March 2026: Active airspace closure preventing new airlift; IndiGo and SpiceJet operating special flights from UAE and Saudi Arabia
- India has 10 C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters based at Hindan Air Force Station
- Emigration Act, 1983 governs emigration of Indian workers to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries
- Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides emergency assistance to distressed Indians abroad