The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday admitted that some agents have been involved in offering fake jobs to Indian youth and illegally sending them to the Russian Army.
While cautioning people against such illegal agents who lure unemployed youth in the name of providing jobs abroad, the Ministry informed that till December 2025, a total of 3,505 unregistered agents in the country have been notified on the eMigrate portal for their involvement in such illegal activities.
Replying to a query on whether the government has identified agents, intermediaries, or international trafficking networks involved in cheating Indian youth by offering fake jobs and illegally sending them to the Russian Army, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the Ministry comes to know about such fraudulent activities of illegal and unscrupulous recruitment agents and agencies in the country.
"As and when a complaint is filed by aggrieved emigrants or their relatives, friends, or family members who have been cheated, as these Indian nationals proceed abroad on their own volition through fraudulent recruitment agents and illegal channels, the matter comes to our notice," the minister said.
"The Government of India and our Embassy in Russia have issued advisories cautioning Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian Army," he said, adding that the Ministry also issues advisories through the eMigrate portal, social media handles, and other modes of publicity about the perils of fake job rackets and ways to prevent them.
"Till December 2025, a total of 3,505 unregistered agents in the country have been notified on the eMigrate portal," the minister said, adding that awareness campaigns on safe and legal migration are carried out across the country from time to time through workshops, training programmes, information sessions, and digital campaigns for media groups, police and law enforcement agencies, local administration, aspiring recruiting agents, entrepreneurs, and the general public.
During these sessions, stakeholders, including job seekers, are informed about emigration regulations and welfare schemes such as the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT), the eMigrate portal, and various advisories issued by Indian embassies. They are also advised to verify the credentials of recruiting agents before accepting any employment offer and not to fall prey to fraudulent job rackets.
The minister further said that the Government of India remains engaged, including at the highest levels, with the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure the safety, well-being, and early discharge of all Indian nationals serving in the Russian armed forces.
He added that the government accords the highest priority to the safety, security, and well-being of Indian nationals proceeding abroad for employment.
"As per the Emigration Act, 1983, no person or agency can function as a Recruiting Agent (RA) without a valid licence issued by the registering authority, namely the Protector General of Emigrants," the minister said, adding that mandatory registration of recruiting agents is aimed at reducing fraud and exploitation of prospective Indian emigrants.
He said that whenever complaints against illegal agents or dubious firms luring Indian youth with false recruitment offers are received, such cases are referred to the state police for investigation and prosecution under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws, including those enacted by some state governments.
