“India’s global diaspora acts as a living bridge, as a critical economic factor and knowledge network in transforming cultural heritage into geopolitical influence and strategic leverage worldwide.” Critically examine this statement

Theme

T122 Indian diaspora: from indentured labour to strategic asset

What UPSC asks in this theme

Cross-paper GS1–GS2: why indentured labour was taken and whether they preserved identity, and the diaspora's economic and political role in the West and South-East Asia, and as a living bridge.

What to cover

• Indentured system: Mauritius, Fiji, Caribbean, Africa
• Cultural preservation (language, festivals)
• Remittances, investment, knowledge networks
• Political influence in the US, UK, Canada
• Diaspora engagement: PBD, OCI

Writing the answer

• Link history to present soft power

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 5 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.