India is often defined by its sheer scale—thousands of cities, hundreds of languages, and a population exceeding 1.4 billion. To an outsider, the logic may seem simple: if a person faces persecution or threats in one part of the country, they should be able to move elsewhere within its borders. This idea is reflected in international law as the Internal Flight Alternative (IFA), which assumes that an asylum seeker need not leave their country if a safe haven exists internally. However, this assumption can be dangerously flawed. In present-day India, safety is not merely a function of distance travelled, but of whether existing systems and structures actually allow a person to live without fear.

The Illusion of Safety through Distance

The notion that safety is automatically created by distance is the first aspect of the myth. It is a common misconception that if someone is in danger in one area of the country, they can simply move to a distant location and disappear amid a crowd of people. The reasoning is that a person’s past cannot follow them because the nation is so large.

This is rarely the case in the modern world. The significance of physical distance has diminished over time. Today, social and political groups frequently have nationwide networks, and communication is instantaneous. Information about a targeted individual can be disseminated across the country in a matter of seconds. This means that relocating does not truly hide a person, rather, it merely shifts the issue to a new place where the individual lacks the vital support of friends or relatives. In many cases, the groups that pose a threat are not localised, they are part of broader ideological movements that maintain active cells or chapters in multiple states. According to recent assessments, while the Indian Constitution grants citizens the right to settle anywhere, the ability of non-state actors to track individuals through social media and community networks makes hiding almost impossible for those targeted by powerful local groups.[1]

The Digital State: A Barrier to Anonymity

The biggest obstacle to the notion that someone may just move to a safer location is the emergence of the digital state. Living in India without documentation is now practically impossible. Since almost all essential services require a government-verified ID, such as an Aadhaar card. Landlords now frequently demand identification for police verification before renting a home. One cannot even purchase a SIM card to stay connected without providing biometric information.

Keeping track of finances is equally challenging because financial payment systems and bank account opening necessitate being formally in the system. Even taking a train or an airplane to a distant area leaves a digital trail of one’s travels.[2] In today’s India, there is no such thing as a clean slate. Because all government and police records are now linked digitally across every state, a person’s history follows them everywhere. For someone in hiding, even the most basic tasks like renting a room or getting paid for a job require them to show an ID or use a digital payment app. This creates a trap because to get the food and shelter they need to survive, they have to use a system that records exactly where they are. In this digital age, the very tools we use to live our daily lives have become a way for the system to monitor and find anyone trying to stay invisible.

The concept of digital exile is particularly dangerous because it is permanent. Unlike paper files that could be lost or left behind in a move, digital records are stored in central databases accessible from anywhere in the country. For an asylum seeker, every interaction with the state or a formal business is a risk. They are forced to live in a state of digital exile, where avoiding the grid means avoiding the modern economy entirely. This forces them into the dark corners of society where they are even more vulnerable to crime and exploitation.

The Legal Loophole and State Insecurity

Another significant obstacle for people attempting to relocate is India’s absence of a distinct refugee statute.[3] India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Consequently, asylum seekers are frequently treated the same as illegal migrants under the Foreigners Act of 1946.[4]

The 2025 CPIN report notes that while there is no national refugee law, the Indian government deals with different groups on an ad hoc basis, leaving many in a state of legal problem.[5] This vacuum creates a culture of administrative hostility. Without a recognized refugee status, individuals are often viewed by local law enforcement not as victims but as potential security threats. Research shows that while the Indian Constitution under Article 21 guarantees the Right to Life to all persons, the lack of a specific law means asylum seekers have no official documentation to present. To speak up is to risk being identified as undocumented, which often leads to detention centres rather than safety.

The Cultural and Linguistic Divide

Relocating to a different region of India can sometimes feel like relocating abroad. A person finds it extremely difficult to fit in and start anew due to the vast diversity of languages and cultures. The language barrier might make a person from the North feel totally alone if they relocate to the South, or vice versa. Being safe involves more than just avoiding enemies, it involves being able to ask for assistance, obtain a job, and communicate with neighbours. Being unable to communicate in the native tongue makes you stand out as an outsider. This visibility makes you a prime target for criminals or those looking to exploit your circumstances.[6] The 2025 Home Office Note highlights that linguistic differences can be a major barrier to accessing basic services, especially in rural areas or states with strong regional identities, as migrants who do not speak the local language are often marginalized.[7]

India’s cultural landscape is a patchwork of regional identities. In many states, there is a strong soil sentiment, where newcomers are viewed with skepticism. For someone who is already traumatized and fleeing for their life, the added weight of being a linguistic and cultural outsider can lead to severe psychological isolation.

The Economic Trap: Poverty as a New Threat

For someone who has moved without assistance, finding a way to make money is nearly impossible. The majority of people who escape their homes abandon everything, including their possessions and savings. They have no family or acquaintances to assist them in finding employment in a new city. Without the appropriate identification or local contacts, they are frequently compelled to perform hazardous or unlawful labour for pitiful wages.

This economic desperation is a form of violence in itself. When an asylum seeker is forced into the informal economy, they lose all labour rights. They cannot complain about withheld wages or unsafe working conditions because doing so would expose their lack of status. Consequently, the safety they found by moving is often replaced by the slow-moving catastrophe of malnutrition, lack of healthcare, and the constant threat of their temporary shelters being demolished.

Conclusion: The Need for Recognition

The Internal Flight Alternative is often used by governments to deny asylum, based on the assumption that a country as large as India must have a safe corner for everyone. But as we have seen, this is a myth. In a world of digital tracking, national political networks, and strict ID requirements, there is no corner far enough to provide a true sanctuary if the state does not recognize your right to exist.

True safety for those running for their lives requires more than just a change of address. It requires a legal framework that distinguishes between a migrant and a person fleeing persecution. Until India addresses these systemic hurdles, internal relocation will remain a dangerous gamble rather than a genuine alternative to seeking safety abroad.

[1] Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note India: Internal Relocation (Version 3.0, 2025).

[2] CJD Project, “Artificial Intelligence, Refugee Registration, and Identity Management in India,” available at: https://cjdproject.web.nycu.edu.tw/2025/03/24/artificial-intelligence-refugee-registration-and-identitymanagement-in-india/.

[3] Al Jazeera, “Stateless babies in northeast India: Refugee mothers pray for nationhood,” available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/1/5/stateless-babies-in-northeast-india-refugee-mothers-pray-for-nationhood.

[4] The Foreigners Act, 1946.

[5] Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note India: Internal Relocation (Version 3.0, 2025).

[6] UNESCO, Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in India (2023), available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000223702.

[7] Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note India: Internal Relocation (Version 3.0, 2025).