A Non-Resident Indian (NRI; Hindi: Pravāsī Bhāratīya) is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian. In common usage, this often includes Indian-born individuals (and also people of other nations with Indian ancestry) who have taken the citizenship of other countries.

In North America, the terms East Indian and Asian Indian are often used to distinguish people who have originated from India (including people from nations of the Indian subcontinent), from the indigenous people, the American Indians and from people who have originated in the Caribbean known as West Indians whereas the diaspora themselves use the term Desi or Deshi to describe themselves.

A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is usually a person of Indian origin who is not a citizen of India. For the purposes of issuing a PIO Card, the Indian government considers anyone of Indian origin up to four generations removed to be a PIO. Spouses of people entitled to a PIO card in their own right can also carry PIO cards. This latter category includes foreign spouses of Indian nationals, regardless of ethnic origin. PIO Cards exempt holders from many restrictions applying to foreign nationals, such as visa and work permit requirements, along with certain other economic limitations.

The NRI and PIO population across the world is estimated at over 30 million. As per a UNDP's 2010 report, after China, India has the largest diaspora in the world, estimated at 25 million, besides being one of the largest "sending" nations in Asia, with an emigration rate of 0.8%. out of which, 72% work in other Asian countries. Also, as per UNESCO Institute for Statistics the number of Indian students abroad tripled from 51,000 in 1999 to over 153,000 in 2007, making India second after China among the world’s largest sending countries for tertiary students.

Since 2003, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-resident India Day) sponsored by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, is being celebrated on January 9 each year in India, to "mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India". The day commemorate the arrival of Mahatama Gandhi in India from South Africa, and during three-day convention held around the day, a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is held and the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given away. As of January 2006,The Indian government has introduced the "Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)" scheme to allow a limited form of dual citizenship to Indians, NRIs and PIOs for the first time since independence in 1947. The PIO Card scheme is expected to be phased out in coming years in favour of OCI.

NON-RESIDENT INDIAN ( NRI )

An Indian citizen or a foreign citizen of Indian origin who stays abroad for employment/carrying on business or vocation or under circumstances indicating an intention for an uncertain duration of stay abroad is a NON-RESIDENT INDIAN ( NRI ). ( Those who stay abroad on business visit, medical treatment, study or such other purposes which do not indicate an intention to stay there for an indefinite period will not be considered as NRIs ).

FOREIGN CITIZEN OF INDIAN ORIGIN

For the purposes of availing of the facilities of opening and maintenance of bank accounts , a foreign citizen (but not a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh) is deemed to be of Indian Origin, if he, at any time was an Indian citizen or either of his parents or any of his grandparents was a citizen of India. A spouse (not being a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh) of an NRI is also treated as an NRI for the above purposes. For investments in shares/securities in India, a foreign citizen (but not a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka) is deemed to be of Indian Origin, subject to satisfaction of the other conditions above. For investments in immovable properties, a foreign citizen (but not a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal or Sri Lanka) is deemed to be of Indian Origin, if he, at any time, was an Indian citizen or his father or paternal grandfather was an Indian citizen.

Nowadays the term NON-RESIDENT INDIAN ( NRI ) is being replaced by the widely accepted & favoured term Global Indians.

• Global Indians is a term that is being used to denote cash rich & well settled Indians both in India & abroad.
• Global Indians is the most popular as well as widely used term for denoting the successful Indians by Multi National firms, I.T giants, Indian companies, News papers, News portals, global IT giants like Google, Yahoo, MSN, general public etc.
• The term 'NRI' is no more as favourite as Global Indians due to many reasons; one being that the former is a technical word, while the latter has a positive emotional & nostalgic meaning to it.

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