India Was Wrongly Criticised for Limiting Immigration: The World Itself Is Closing Its Doors

MGMMTeam
Nov 24
5 min read

Introduction

Over the past decade, India has repeatedly been criticised by international commentators and sections of the global media for adopting stricter immigration controls. These criticisms often paint India as inward-looking or excessively cautious, implying that it stands alone in restricting inflows of migrants. Yet this narrative collapses the moment one looks beyond India’s borders. Across Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of Asia, governments are rapidly tightening their migration policies. From work visa caps to tougher citizenship rules and stricter asylum procedures, the global trend is unmistakable: the world is clamping down on immigration. In this context, singling out India becomes not only unfair but deeply hypocritical.

A Global Tightening: Immigration Is Being Restricted Everywhere

A New Phase in Migration Politics Across the West

International migration, which surged after the pandemic due to labour shortages and supply-chain disruptions, has now entered a period of contraction. Countries that historically depended on migrant labour—such as the UK, Germany, Canada and Sweden—are rolling back openness. Governments cite reasons ranging from economic pressure to demographic concerns to social integration challenges. This shift reveals a decisive global retreat from liberal migration policies that once defined the international order.

Restrictive Policies Becoming the Norm Worldwide

In Europe, new legislation is making citizenship harder, family reunification more limited, and asylum applications more difficult to approve. The UK has raised salary thresholds and tightened English-language requirements. Germany has scaled back family reunions and tightened work visas. Sweden has overhauled its entire migration system, imposing tougher residency requirements and demanding higher income thresholds. Even countries once known for their openness—such as Canada and Australia—are shrinking international student intake and cutting down on work permits. This establishes a clear global pattern: immigration is no longer a political asset but a liability in the eyes of many electorates.

Why Criticising India Becomes Illogical and Hypocritical

India Is Not an Outlier but Part of a Global Realignment

When seen against the global backdrop, India’s decision to regulate immigration is neither unusual nor extreme. Every sovereign nation has the right—and indeed the duty—to control who enters its borders. India’s regional context, demographic pressures, and security concerns make immigration management a practical necessity rather than a political choice. Western nations that tightened their borders without global criticism often project a different yardstick onto India, expecting it to remain open even while they close their own doors.

Security and Demographic Concerns Are Genuine, Not Manufactured

India’s immigration approach is closely tied to national security. The reality of infiltration, trafficking, demographic spillovers and cross-border extremism in certain regions makes lax immigration controls impossible. These concerns are not ideological; they are rooted in decades of lived geopolitical challenges. When Western nations cite economic stress or social cohesion as valid reasons to restrict immigration, India’s reasons—often far more urgent—deserve equal legitimacy.

Selective Morality in Migration Debates

A striking contradiction emerges in global commentary. Nations across Europe and North America openly argue that their systems cannot handle more migrants. They frame restrictions as responsible governance. Yet when India voices similar concerns, the framing suddenly shifts to nationalism, intolerance or isolationism. This selective morality exposes a double standard where Western decisions are seen as pragmatic, while Indian decisions are moralised, criticised or misunderstood.

India’s Evolving Approach to Immigration

A Push for Structured and Legal Mobility

The introduction of India’s Immigration & Foreigners Bill aims to streamline the system, modernise outdated processes, and create clearer pathways for legal entry. India is not closing itself off; instead, it is redefining the rules to reflect contemporary realities. This shift mirrors global trends where countries seek regulated, skills-focused, quota-based migration rather than open-ended inflows.

Balancing Emigration and Immigration Realities

India is one of the world’s largest sources of emigrants, with millions working abroad and contributing through remittances, knowledge flows and global networks. Its approach to immigration must coexist with its emigration dynamics. Restricting inbound migration while supporting legal outbound migration is a strategic choice—one that strengthens human capital, protects labour markets, and stabilises domestic social structures.

The Way Forward for India

Reclaiming the Narrative and Asserting Sovereignty

India needs to articulate its migration stance more assertively, countering external criticism with facts and global comparisons. The world is not becoming more open; it is becoming more protected. India’s policies are part of this global shift, not an exception to it. By engaging diplomatically, presenting data-driven arguments, and highlighting double standards, India can correct misconceptions and reclaim control over its own narrative.

Building a Modern, Future-Ready Migration Framework

Modernising legal pathways, strengthening border management, improving refugee protocols, and promoting skill-based visas are essential steps. Supporting Indians abroad, enabling smooth return migration, and collaborating with foreign governments will ensure that India remains an active player in global mobility while protecting national interests.

The MGMM Outlook

India has long been unfairly targeted by global commentators for tightening immigration norms, even though the world itself is rapidly closing its borders. Across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia, countries are imposing harsher visa rules, limiting work permits, reducing student intake and toughening asylum procedures. From the UK’s salary thresholds to Sweden’s strict residency rules to Canada’s shrinking international student numbers, restrictive migration policies have become the global norm. In this environment, portraying India as unusually rigid is not only inaccurate but hypocritical. Like every sovereign nation, India has valid grounds—security threats, demographic pressures, border volatility and cross-border extremism—that make a structured immigration approach essential. When Western nations enforce controls, they call it responsible governance; when India does the same, it is labelled intolerant. This double standard reflects selective morality rather than objective assessment.

India’s evolving immigration framework is not about shutting doors but about modernising and regulating mobility just as the rest of the world is doing. The upcoming Immigration & Foreigners Bill aims to streamline legal entry, prevent illegal infiltration and make the system skills-focused and orderly. At the same time, India must balance its position as one of the world’s largest sources of emigrants, ensuring domestic stability while supporting millions who work abroad. By asserting its sovereignty, countering biased narratives and implementing future-ready migration reforms, India is simply aligning with the global shift toward controlled, security-conscious migration. The criticism directed at India ignores global reality, overlooks India’s unique challenges, and fails to acknowledge that regulated immigration is now the international standard—not an exception reserved for India.

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