Vaccine Maitri & Rescue Missions

Evacuating Indians from a crisis abroad had historically been slow and improvised, and India was more often a recipient of international disaster aid than a provider of it. The scale of the diaspora — over 3 crore people of Indian origin worldwide — meant that almost every regional crisis stranded Indian citizens somewhere.

The Vande Bharat Mission repatriated over 1.83 crore Indians stranded by COVID border closures — the largest repatriation exercise in history — using civil aviation, naval vessels and chartered flights across more than 100 countries. In parallel, Vaccine Maitri sent 3,012 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses by June 2023 (MEA), to nearly 100 countries, including free vaccines to 48 (PIB, June 2026), at a moment when wealthier states were securing supply for themselves.

Named operations follow a standard pattern: a control room at the Ministry of External Affairs, a designated exit corridor through a neighbouring country, Indian Air Force and Navy assets on standby, and — where needed — ministers deployed as special envoys on the ground. Operation Ganga moved about 22,500 people out of Ukraine in 2022; Operation Kaveri around 3,800 out of Sudan in 2023; Operation Devi Shakti brought citizens and Afghan minorities out of Kabul in 2021.

The same capability serves others. Operation Dost put NDRF search-and-rescue teams, field hospitals and relief into earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria within 24 hours; Operation Sadbhav sent 98 tonnes of flood relief to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos after Typhoon Yagi in 2024; Operation Brahma did the same for Myanmar in 2025; and India reached flood-hit Nepal within hours in 2026. During Sri Lanka's 2022 economic collapse India extended about $4 billion in credit, fuel, food and medicine — more than any other country. Under the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR frameworks India positions itself as the Indian Ocean region's first responder, delivering relief, medical teams and supplies faster than any other regional power.

1.83 crore+ Indians repatriated under the Vande Bharat Mission — the largest ever. 3,012 lakh vaccine doses supplied under Vaccine Maitri (June 2023). ~22,500 evacuated from Ukraine (Operation Ganga). ~3,800 from Sudan (Operation Kaveri). 24 hours — response time to the Turkey earthquake (Operation Dost). 98 tonnes of flood relief to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos (Operation Sadbhav, 2024). ~$4 bn to Sri Lanka in 2022. Sources: MEA, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, PIB.