The migration of skilled individuals to other nations is referred as the brain drain or the human capital flight. This migration of talented individuals may be due to conflicts, lack of opportunity, or health hazards where they are living.

In India, brain drain is more because educated individuals are emigrating for higher wages and better opportunities. It has been in our consciousness since 30 years and many bright youngsters have emigrated mainly to US from early 1960s onwards including a large fraction of the graduating class at IITs in India.

Advantages

The money the emigrants have sent back home has helped in alleviating poverty in their homes.

It has resulted in less child labor, greater child schooling, more hours worked in self employment and a higher rate of people starting capital intensive enterprises.

The money remittances have also reduced the level and severity of poverty.

Moreover, the money migrants sent back are spent more in investments such as education, health and housing, rather than on food and other goods.

Disadvantages

Due to the influence of brain drain, the investment in higher education is lost as the highly educated person leaves India and becomes an asset to other country.

Also, whatever social capital the individual has been a part of is reduced by his or her departure.

With all the college graduates leaving their homelands, it raises the question as to whether their skills are being put to good use in the destination country.

The chances of Brain Waste are possible. I

n a similar way, there is a shortage of skilled and competent people in India.

A tremendous increase in wages of high-skill labour can be seen now in India.

The emigration has also created innumerous problems in the public sector.