Kathmandu: Indian-origin leaders are increasingly making their presence felt in global politics, holding positions of influence across continents. According to data shared in the Rajya Sabha, 261 elected representatives of Indian descent are currently active in 29 countries, including the UK, Mauritius, France, and the United States. This growing political footprint highlights the expanding role of the Indian diaspora in global democratic processes. Worldwide, over 34.3 million people of Indian origin reside outside India.
During a recent parliamentary session, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh provided a detailed list of countries with Indian-origin representatives, responding to a question from Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu. Mauritius leads the list with 45 elected officials of Indian origin, including Prime Minister Naveen Ramgoolam. Guyana follows with 33 representatives, the UK with 31, France 24, Suriname 21, Trinidad and Tobago 18, and both Fiji and Malaysia with 17. The United States currently has six elected representatives of Indian origin.
The list has recently grown to include Nepal’s Sushila Karki, who was sworn in as the country’s interim Prime Minister on September 12, 2025. Karki has strong ties to India, having completed her MA in Political Science at Banaras Hindu University in 1975, where she also met her spouse. Her integrity and connections with BHU remain fondly remembered.
Globally, Indian-origin populations are substantial. As of January 2025, the diaspora counts over 34.3 million individuals residing in 206 countries. The largest communities are in the United States (5.6 million), UAE (3.9 million), Saudi Arabia (4.75 million), Malaysia (2.9 million), the UK (1.3 million), Kuwait (1 million), and Australia (1 million). No Indian-origin populations were reported in Pakistan or San Marino.
Governments worldwide have implemented initiatives to engage the diaspora, encouraging their participation in nation-building, technology transfer, and investment, thus strengthening ties between India and its overseas communities.
Recent political milestones include the election of Singapore’s new president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the country’s ninth, who won 70.4% of votes, defeating two candidates of Chinese descent. Born on February 25, 1957, Shanmugaratnam is the third Singaporean president of Indian origin and studied at Cambridge University. His career spans decades of public service focused on economic and social policy.
Other prominent Indian-origin leaders include:
- Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States.
- Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister and the youngest to hold the post in 200 years.
- Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana since August 2020.
- Antonio Costa, Portugal’s Prime Minister since 2015, of mixed Indian and Portuguese heritage.
- Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname since 2020.
- Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius since 2017.
- Leo Eric Varadkar, leading Ireland since December 2022.
- Prithvirajsing Roopun, President of Mauritius since 2019.
These leaders exemplify the global influence and political acumen of individuals of Indian descent, shaping policies and representing diverse nations while maintaining strong cultural and familial ties to India.
