MEA has asked Indians in France, Italy and Belgium to stay vigilant and avoid protest areas. Paris helplines are active as fresh demonstrations begin today.
Updated: October 24, 2026, 11:30 IST
Quick Read
- At Friday’s briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal advised Indian nationals in France, Italy and Belgium to “remain vigilant”, avoid protest areas and follow local advisories. Missions in all three countries are in regular touch with the community.
- The Indian Embassy in Paris (advisory Oct 21) asked Indians to avoid large gatherings amid localised curfews, and shared helplines: Paris +33 6 48 34 00 63, Marseille +33 7 43 16 25 59.
- France: 2,500+ detained by Oct 19; the historic town hall in Limoges burned; fresh demonstrations are scheduled today, with PM Lecornu promising “massive” police deployment.
If you’re Indian and in France, Italy or Belgium right now, the government wants you to be careful. The MEA on Friday advised Indian nationals in all three countries to stay vigilant, avoid areas where protests are happening, and follow local advisories.
“Our missions in France, in Italy, and in Belgium, they’re closely following the developments there and they are in regular touch with our community members,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the briefing, per ETV Bharat. “Indian nationals in these countries where protests are happening are advised to remain vigilant and exercise due caution when they are moving out, and also to avoid areas where protests are happening.”
What’s happening in France
The protests began in late September — over rising living costs, poor conditions in schools, teacher shortages and cuts to public services, ETV Bharat reported. Students, workers and other groups joined in, criticising President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. In several cities the demonstrations turned violent: clashes with police, looting.
The numbers are stark. More than 2,500 people were taken into custody by October 19. Localised curfews are in force in places. In Limoges, the historic town hall was burned. Fresh demonstrations are planned for today, Saturday — and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has promised a “massive” police deployment. Macron has said a state of emergency isn’t needed yet, but hasn’t taken the option off the table.
If you’re in Paris today
The practical bit. The Indian Embassy in Paris issued its own advisory on Wednesday (Oct 21): avoid large gatherings and crowded places, follow instructions from the French authorities, and check public transport before heading out — the embassy points to ratp.fr for metro and bus disruptions and gouvernement.fr for official updates.
Save the numbers: Embassy of India, Paris — +33 6 48 34 00 63 (cons.paris@mea.gov.in); Consulate General, Marseille — +33 7 43 16 25 59. The advisory covers travellers too, not just residents. (When Saudi flights were cancelled this month, we published a similar helpline-and-refund guide — the playbook is the same: embassy first, official updates second.)
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Italy and Belgium
The MEA’s advisory names Italy and Belgium alongside France. But the public details from the briefing focus on France — no specific incidents in Italy or Belgium were cited in the reports we’ve seen. The advice is the same everywhere: stay alert, avoid protest zones, follow local advisories. We’ll update this post if the missions issue country-specific notes.
FAQ
- What exactly did the MEA advise?
Indian nationals in France, Italy and Belgium should remain vigilant, avoid protest areas, exercise caution while travelling, and follow advisories issued by local authorities. Missions are monitoring the situation. - What are the emergency numbers in France?
Embassy of India, Paris: +33 6 48 34 00 63 (cons.paris@mea.gov.in). Consulate General, Marseille: +33 7 43 16 25 59 (cgo.marseille@mea.gov.in). - Why are there protests in France?
They began in late September over rising living costs, poor school conditions, teacher shortages and cuts to public services. Some demonstrations turned violent, with looting and clashes with police; 2,500+ were detained by Oct 19.
Demonstrations are scheduled across France today, with heavy police deployment promised. If you’re in Paris, check ratp.fr for transport disruptions before you step out.
