Refugee Crisis in India vis-à-vis National Security: A Study of Rohingya

India has a long tradition of receiving refugees of different profiles and has extended humanitarian protection while balancing national security interests. At present, India provides shelter to over 300,000 refugees from more than 30 countries. India is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention, 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. India adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it is also a signatory to many other United Nations and World Contentions on Human Rights. The Constitution of India is itself an example of generosity which provides constitutional protection to citizens as well as non-citizens. India is providing shelter to refugees from ancient time, but in present world scenario, the circumstances have become more critical due to terrorism, population blast, hunger, lack of resources, sectarian violence etc. Rohingyas migrated from Myanmar due to military persecution and at present around 40,000 Rohingyas have taken shelter in India. But few Rohingya’s link with terrorist groups has been found. Therefore, the question of balance between the issue of humanitarian attitude towards Rohingyas and the crisis of national security arises. The paper will incorporate in depth issue of Rohingyas, their origin and the present crisis before the Government of India. The paper proposes to analyse the constitutional safeguards available to refugees in India. India’s tradition and culture towards refugees would also be logically evaluated. How can India make a balance between its national interest and liberal refugee policy? The rationale of shelter to refugees while India is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention, 1951 and its 1967 Protocol has to be examined thoroughly and purposefully.