Context: 

India has been engaging in a series of agreements, and it is now in discussions with European nations, including Switzerland, to finalize migration agreements.

About Migration Agreement:

• A Migration Agreement between countries is a formal arrangement that outlines the terms and conditions under which individuals from one country can live, work, study, or seek professional opportunities in another country. 

India’s Migration Agreements: 

• India has already inked agreements with several nations like the UK, Germany, Austria, and Portugal, which share similar objectives of facilitating cross-border opportunities for professionals.
• Young Professionals Scheme with the UK: It permits early-career professionals aged 18-30 from both countries to work in each other’s nation for a period of two years. 
  • This scheme is limited to 3,000 professionals from India and the UK.
• India-Germany MMPA: The Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) with Germany allows Indian students to seek employment opportunities 18 months after completing their studies. 
  • It also enables the exchange of young professionals to reside and work in Germany if their diploma or degree is recognized by the competent German authority.
• Portugal Agreement: The agreement with Portugal offers opportunities for blue-collar workers to find employment in Portugal.
  • Blue-collar worker refers to individuals who engage in hard manual labor, typically in the agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, or maintenance sectors.
• India-Australia MMPA: Both countries  signed a migration partnership agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia.
  • It is aimed at promoting two-way exchange of students, graduates, researchers, and business people, and expanding people-to-people ties.

News Source: Livemint