Why in News
The UNHCR Global Trends report recorded the first decline in global forced displacement in a decade, with the number of forcibly displaced people at about 117.8 million (roughly one in 70 people worldwide). The decline was driven by large-scale returns of refugees and internally displaced people to countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan, though the UN agency cautioned that many returns happened under difficult or unsafe conditions.
Key Findings
| Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total forcibly displaced | About 117.8 million (one in 70 people) |
| Change | A decline, the first in ten years |
| Main driver | Returns to countries of origin |
| Caution | Many returns occurred under adverse or unsafe conditions |
A decline in displacement is welcome, but the UNHCR stressed that it does not by itself signal that the underlying conflicts and crises have been resolved. Part of the fall reflects coerced returns, such as Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan, so a lower count may signal the erosion of asylum space rather than restored safety, a reminder that a falling number can mislead. (Note: the 117.8 million figure is the end-2025 stock; the 2026 report covers 2025 data.)
Who Counts as “Forcibly Displaced”?
The “forcibly displaced” total combines several categories. The 2025 breakdown:
| Category | Definition | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Refugees | Fled across an international border due to persecution, conflict or violence | About 41.6 million |
| Internally displaced persons (IDPs) | Displaced within their own country, not having crossed a border | About 68.7 million |
| Asylum seekers | Those whose claim for refugee status is still pending | About 9 million |
| Returns in 2025 | Refugees and IDPs who went back to their areas of origin (the decline’s driver) | About 14.7 million |
A related category is stateless persons, who lack a recognised nationality under any country’s law, a distinct part of the UNHCR’s mandate. Sudan is currently the world’s largest internal-displacement crisis. The top sources of refugees include Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and Sudan; the largest hosts include Iran, Turkey, Germany and Pakistan.
Understanding the UNHCR and the Refugee Framework
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| UNHCR | The UN Refugee Agency, established in 1950 |
| 1951 Refugee Convention | The core international treaty defining “refugee” and the principle of non-refoulement |
| 1967 Protocol | Removed the geographic and time limits of the 1951 Convention |
| Non-refoulement | The principle that refugees should not be returned to a place where they face serious threats |
India and Refugees
India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, and it does not have a dedicated domestic refugee law. It nonetheless hosts over 240,000 refugees and asylum seekers on humanitarian grounds, dealt with mainly under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and case-by-case executive policy.
Major Refugee Groups in India
| Group | Approximate number |
|---|---|
| Tibetans (post-1959) | ~72,000 |
| Sri Lankan Tamils (Tamil Nadu camps) | ~58,000 in camps (more outside) |
| Chakmas (Arunachal Pradesh) | ~47,000 |
| Rohingya (post-2017) | ~40,000 |
| Afghans | ~8,000 to 12,000 |
Landmark Indian Case Law
| Case | Holding |
|---|---|
| NHRC v. State of Arunachal Pradesh (1996) | The State must protect the life and liberty of every person, citizen or not, under Article 21; Chakmas could not be forcibly evicted |
| Mohammad Salimullah v. Union of India (2021) | The Court declined to halt Rohingya deportation, holding that non-refoulement does not bind India as a non-signatory, though deportation must follow due procedure |
Together these show that non-citizens enjoy Article 21 protection of life, but there is no enforceable right against deportation in Indian law.
Why No Refugee Law?
India cites sovereignty, national security and porous borders, and argues the 1951 Convention is Euro-centric. The case for a law is predictability and an end to executive arbitrariness, and a clear line between refugees and illegal migrants. A 2021 Asylum Bill (a private member’s bill) and earlier model drafts remain unadopted, and the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, which fast-tracks citizenship for six non-Muslim communities from three neighbouring countries, has sharpened the debate over a needs-based versus identity-based approach.
Globally, the Global Compact on Refugees (2018) seeks to share the responsibility of hosting refugees more fairly, and the three “durable solutions” are voluntary repatriation, local integration and third-country resettlement.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims
- Global forced displacement was about 117.8 million (one in 70 people), the first decline in a decade
- Breakdown: refugees ~41.6M, IDPs ~68.7M, asylum seekers ~9M; about 14.7M returned in 2025
- UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) was established in 1950; World Refugee Day is June 20
- The 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol form the core framework; non-refoulement is the key principle
- India is not a signatory; refugees are handled under the Foreigners Act, 1946; key cases: NHRC v Arunachal (1996), Salimullah (2021)
- The Global Compact on Refugees (2018) promotes burden-sharing; durable solutions: repatriation, local integration, resettlement
Mains Angles
- GS2 International Relations: Discuss the global refugee framework and India’s position as a non-signatory that nonetheless hosts refugees.
- GS2 Governance: “India needs a dedicated refugee law.” Examine the case for and against, in light of the CAA, 2019.
- GS1 Society: A falling displacement count can mask coerced returns. Critically examine, with reference to durable solutions.
Facts Corner
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total displaced | About 117.8 million (one in 70 people), end-2025 |
| Breakdown | Refugees ~41.6M, IDPs ~68.7M, asylum seekers ~9M |
| Returns in 2025 | ~14.7 million (the decline’s driver) |
| Report | UNHCR Global Trends; UNHCR founded 1950 |
| Core treaty | 1951 Refugee Convention + 1967 Protocol; non-refoulement |
| India’s status | Not a signatory; Foreigners Act, 1946; hosts 240,000+ |
| India case law | NHRC v Arunachal (1996); Salimullah (2021) |
| Global frame | Global Compact on Refugees (2018); World Refugee Day June 20 |
Sources: UNHCR, The Hindu, PIB
Source: UNHCR Records First Decline in Global Forced Displacement in a Decade — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
