She noted that India continues to receive more than USD 135 billion annually from Indians working abroad.
India is expected to maintain stable inflows of overseas remittances and a comfortable external position despite tensions in West Asia, Poonam Gupta of the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday, underlining the strength of the country’s balance of payments.
She noted that India continues to receive more than USD 135 billion annually from Indians working abroad, with inflows showing resilience even during global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. According to her, recent data for March also indicates an improvement in remittance trends compared to previous months.
Highlighting structural changes, Gupta said the share of West Asia in India’s total remittances has declined to around 40 percent, reflecting a broader geographical spread of the Indian workforce. Migrant workers are now employed across sectors including information technology, healthcare, hospitality, education and construction, reducing dependence on any single region.
She added that while the current geopolitical situation is centred around key maritime zones and may affect mobility in the short term, its overall impact on remittance flows is expected to remain limited. Even in cases where workers return, employment prospects could improve again with the start of reconstruction activities.
Gupta further said that India’s external stability is supported not only by remittances but also by strong services exports and steady foreign direct investment inflows, which together help maintain a balanced and resilient economic outlook.
(With inputs from PTI)
