Vande Bharat Mission, Objectives, Framework, Impact, Challenges

The Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) stands as one of the largest and most ambitious evacuation operations undertaken by the Government of India. Launched in May 2020, the mission aimed to bring back Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the global suspension of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is considered the largest rescue operation initiative since the Gulf War 1990, during which over 177,000 Indians were evacuated from Kuwait.

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Vande Bharat Mission Objectives

The Vande Bharat Mission was initiated to facilitate the return of Indian citizens across the globe under exceptional and compelling circumstances. The key objectives included:

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1. Assisting those who had lost jobs due to economic downturns in host countries.
2. Helping individuals with expired or non-renewable visas.
3. Bringing back citizens facing medical emergencies or bereavement in the family.
4. Providing relief to students and professionals unable to sustain themselves abroad.

Vande Bharat Mission Framework

• Phased Repatriation Plan: The Vande Bharat Mission was executed in multiple phases to ensure systematic repatriation without overwhelming domestic quarantine and healthcare systems.

• Air and Sea Evacuations: The flagship carriers Air India and Air India Express were entrusted with operating the initial 64 flights across 12 countries.

• In later phases, private airlines, Indian Navy ships, and Indian Air Force aircraft were also deployed, especially to remote destinations.

1. Passenger-Borne Cost: The cost of travel under Vande Bharat Mission was borne by the passengers themselves, though the government facilitated the logistics, approvals, and coordination with foreign governments.

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Vande Bharat Mission Reach

The Vande Bharat Mission helped in migration of over 2.1 million Indian citizens by early 2021 from more than 100 countries. It spanned multiple phases and included air, land, and sea routes. Countries covered included the UAE, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and several European and African nations.

Vande Bharat Mission Challenges

• Coordinating flights enclosed during COVID-19 protocols and lockdowns across countries posed a major diplomatic and logistical challenge.
• Ensuring mandatory RT-PCR tests, quarantine guidelines, and contactless travel required extensive collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Civil Aviation, and External Affairs.
• Receiving state governments had to scale up quarantine centers, healthcare screenings, and testing infrastructure for returnees.

Vande Bharat Mission Impact

• The Vande Bharat Mission brought home millions of Indian citizens under extraordinary circumstances, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens..
• The mission involved close cooperation with foreign governments, enhancing India’s diplomatic goodwill and international standing.
• The Vande Bharat Mission became a logistical and public health benchmark in managing international travel during a pandemic, with protocols that balanced repatriation with containment of disease spread.
• The experience of Vande Bharat Mission has helped establish a scalable model for future humanitarian evacuations and global mobility management.