New Delhi, April 1 -- As the war in West Asia drags on, uncertainty is no longer episodic-it is shaping everyday decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently told Parliament that over 300,000 Indian nationals working and living across the region have returned to India. A significant share of this movement includes Indians based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the return is uneven, some are relocating temporarily, others with a more permanent intent.

Individuals with long-term residency, such as golden visas, are able to rearrange their affairs and relocate for now. Those who moved recently for work are being permitted to work remotely and have returned until conditions stabilize. Students, too, are shifting back where institut...