Discover the vital role of UNHCR in protecting refugees globally and explore India’s unique refugee policy in 2025, balancing hospitality and controversy. Learn how UNHCR and India collaborate to support over 250,000 refugees amid new immigration laws.
In a world where wars, climate disasters, and persecution force millions from their homes, the United Nations Refugee Agency—better known as UNHCR—stands as a beacon of hope.
Every year, over 100 million people are displaced globally, seeking safety in foreign lands. But what exactly does UNHCR do, and how does India, a nation hosting over 200,000 refugees, fit into this picture?
This explainer dives into UNHCR’s core mission and unpacks India’s refugee policy—a mix of generosity and controversy that’s making headlines in 2025.
Whether you’re curious about global aid or India’s border challenges, read on for a clear, step-by-step guide.
There is no refugee crisis. There’s a political crisis – over and over again.
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) October 2, 2025
If lasting peace were achieved in a few key locations, global refugee figures could halve.
A reminder on International Day of #NonViolence. pic.twitter.com/FjdRb0UkJ2
What is UNHCR? A Quick History and Mandate
Founded in 1950 after World War II, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created to help Europeans uprooted by the conflict. Today, it’s a global powerhouse operating in more than 130 countries, protecting refugees, internally displaced people, and stateless individuals.
UNHCR’s mandate, rooted in the 1951 Refugee Convention, focuses on three big goals: protecting lives, providing aid, and finding lasting solutions. Unlike many UN agencies, UNHCR gets most of its funding from voluntary donations by governments and private donors, not fixed UN budgets. This flexibility lets it respond quickly to crises, like the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar.
In simple terms, UNHCR isn’t just a charity—it’s the world’s lead advocate for the right to seek asylum, ensuring no one is sent back to danger (a principle called non-refoulement).
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The Key Roles of UNHCR: Protection, Aid, and Solutions
UNHCR’s work boils down to three pillars. Let’s break them down:
1. Protection: Safeguarding Rights
- UNHCR fights to uphold international laws that protect refugees. This means advocating for safe borders, legal aid, and freedom from discrimination.
- They conduct “refugee status determination” (RSD)—a process to verify if someone qualifies as a refugee under global standards.
- In hotspots like Syria or Afghanistan, UNHCR monitors camps to prevent abuse, including gender-based violence and child exploitation.
2. Assistance: Delivering Emergency Help
- When disasters strike, UNHCR rushes in with tents, food, water, and medical care. In 2024 alone, they aided over 36 million people with essentials like shelter and healthcare.
- They partner with NGOs, governments, and locals to build schools and clinics in refugee camps, helping kids learn and families heal.
- Fun fact: UNHCR’s emergency teams use tech like drones to map needs and apps to track aid distribution—making relief faster and fairer.
3. Solutions: Building Permanent Homes
- The dream? Help refugees return home safely (voluntary repatriation), integrate into new countries (local integration), or resettle elsewhere (third-country options).
- In 2023, UNHCR helped 500,000 people return home and resettled 100,000 to safer nations.
- They also tackle “statelessness”—when people lack citizenship—by pushing for legal reforms in countries like Thailand and Ivory Coast.
Through it all, UNHCR collaborates with over 1,000 partners, from the Red Cross to tech giants like Google, to amplify impact.
India’s Refugee Policy: A Legacy of Hospitality with Modern Twists
India isn’t your typical refugee host. Unlike 146 countries, it hasn’t signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Instead, it follows a “humanitarian” approach shaped by its own history—think Partition in 1947, when 15 million crossed borders fleeing violence.
Historical Roots: Open Arms for Some
- Post-independence, India welcomed Tibetans (after 1959 Chinese invasion), Sri Lankans (during 1980s civil war), and later Afghans and Rohingya from Myanmar.
- Today, India shelters about 250,000 refugees, including 40,000 Tibetans, 100,000 Sri Lankans, and growing numbers from Afghanistan (post-2021 Taliban takeover) and Myanmar.
- No formal “refugee law” exists; policies are ad-hoc, handled by the Foreigners Act of 1946 and state governments. This means refugees get work permits, education access, and healthcare—but it’s uneven.
2025 Updates: New Rules Spark Debate
- Enter the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, introduced in March. It aims to streamline entry, visas, and deportation for “foreigners,” including stricter checks on illegal migrants. Proponents say it modernizes borders amid rising migration.
- A controversial March 2025 Immigration Order eases citizenship for non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—extending the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Critics call it discriminatory, favouring Hindus, Sikhs, and others while sidelining Muslims like Rohingya.
- Rohingya woes: Since May 2025, India has deported hundreds to Bangladesh and Myanmar, drawing flak from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for violating non-refoulement. Over 18,000 Rohingya live in India, mostly in Jammu and Hyderabad, facing detention and fear.
Despite this, India argues its policy balances security with compassion—hosting refugees without UNHCR-mandated status, saving the UN millions in aid costs.
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Scenes of daily life. Hopes for peace. A culture that endures.
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) October 4, 2025
Sudanese artist Salih Abdo paints with watercolour and coffee-based pigments, keeping the Sudanese way of life alive through art. pic.twitter.com/UpFe5q6rBA
How UNHCR and India Team Up: On-the-Ground Impact
UNHCR has operated in India since 1981, working closely with the government despite no formal treaty. From Delhi to Chennai, they run 11 offices with eight partners, offering:
- Registration and Legal Aid: Helping 45,000+ refugees get status and fight deportations.
- Health and Support: Free clinics for vulnerable groups, plus workshops on gender-based violence (GBV) for Afghan and Myanmar women.
- Durable Solutions: In 2023, UNHCR aided self-reliance programs, like vocational training for Somali and Congolese refugees.
India funds some efforts indirectly, while UNHCR fills gaps. Recent wins? A 2024 push for Rohingya education access, though 2025 deportations strain ties.
| Aspect | UNHCR’s Global Role | India’s Approach |
| Legal Framework | 1951 Convention | No signature; Foreigners Act 1946 |
| Refugee Numbers | 120M worldwide | ~250,000 hosted |
| Key Challenges | Funding shortfalls | Discrimination claims, deportations |
| Partnerships | 1,000+ global | Govt + NGOs like BOSCO |
Challenges Ahead: Balancing Borders and Humanity
India’s policy shines in scale—few nations host so many without a dedicated law—but 2025’s changes raise red flags. Human rights groups urge a comprehensive Refugee Act to codify protections. Meanwhile, UNHCR warns of rising deportations amid Myanmar’s instability.
Globally, climate refugees (not yet covered by UNHCR) loom large. India, vulnerable to floods and heatwaves, could lead on this.
Wrapping Up: A Call for Compassionate Progress
UNHCR’s role—protecting the displaced, delivering aid, and forging futures—is more crucial than ever.
In India, a blend of tradition and tough new laws shapes a policy that’s generous yet guarded.
As borders tighten worldwide, stories like the Rohingya’s remind us: Refugees aren’t statistics; they’re neighbours in need.
What do you think—should India join the 1951 Convention? Share in the comments below. For more on global affairs, visit The Interview Times and follow us on X for updates.
Sources: UNHCR.org, Human Rights Watch, PRS India, and Amnesty International.
Mahendra Singh is a seasoned journalist and editor at TheInterviewTimes.com with over 28 years of experience. An alumnus of IIMC, he writes on international affairs, politics, education, environment, and key social issues.