India has the distinction of being recognized as an important country of origin of migrants in many receiving countries of the world. India also receives a large number of immigrants, mostly originating from its neighbouring countries in Asia and some from other countries as well. However, despite having significant stakes in international migration of human resources the issue of mobility has largely remained a neglected area in the academic and policy circles in India. Hardly any regular and comprehensive institutional mechanism for collecting, maintaining and disseminating systematic information on international migration exists in India excepting a few individual initiatives here and there. It is only in the closing decades of the 20th century that migration has started drawing greater attention of stakeholders in policy sphere, in academia and the civil society in India. In this context, publication of this first India Migration Report aims to make a small beginning towards bridging a vital gap. The 2009 Report provides an overview of migration from India to the major destination countries as well as immigration to India. The focus of the report is to put together issues and concerns of significance in the contemporary contexts of migration – both continuing and emerging - and bring out a systematic, regular and futuristic source of information and analysis on international mobility of people involving India. A modest attempt today, it is hoped that the Report will help us build upon the available data sources, and also identify and generate new avenues. International Migration and Diaspora Studies (IMDS) Project International Migration and Diaspora Studies (IMDS) Project is a research facility at the Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The project also hosts the Research Programme in International Migration instituted at the Centre by an agreement between the University and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India. The project aims to conduct and facilitate research on major migration themes of significance in Indian as well as global contexts. The focus of the programme is to undertake research on various economic, social, political, cultural, and educational aspects of globalization and migration, and to initiate collaborative interactions with other academic institutions and international organisations on major migration issues. The emphasis of these initiatives is on creating an interface between academia and policy making through workshops, conferences, teaching modules, publications, hosting of visiting scholars and other interactive pursuits.

Table of Contents:
• Preface • Contents • List of Tables • List of Figures • List of Boxes • List of Annexures Chapter 1: India as a Major Country: An Overview of Trends and Characteristics Chapter 2: Immigrants in India: An Overview Chapter 3: The Migration Cycle Chapter 4: Continuing and Emerging Concerns Chapter 5: Perspectives of Mobility of Health Professionals Chapter 6: Policy Perspectives on International Migration Chapter 7: Future Outlook • Bibliography