About 2 crore (20 million) overseas Indians returned to India during the last three years, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The number of Indians returned during the last three years are 56,53,635 in 2004, 65,04,109 in 2005 and 74,36,768 in 2006 (excluding Immigration Check Posts at Hyderabad during June and December, 2006, Ahmedabad during September and December, 2006 and Sutrakandi during October, 2006), he said in a written reply.

Ravi said the returnees included all Indians, like overseas Indians, students, tourists, and businessmen.

He also informed the House that there are no Resident Indian Missions in 83 countries and they are concurrently accredited to Indian Missions in neighbouring countries. In addition, Ravi said the Union government has appointed Honorary Counsuls/Consul Generals in 56 places to look after interests of Indians.