Since its inception three decades back, the ARSP has emerged as an important non-governmental organization connecting the people of Indian origin across the world. The ARSP acts as a voice for the diaspora with the Government of India articulating diaspora concerns with the Ministries/departments for Overseas Indian Affairs, External Affairs and Culture. The wide ranging activities of ARSP include programmes on cultural, educational, social and civilizational matters, travel and tourism, economic links; interactions with think tanks, opinion makers like Parliamentarians, media, etc and linguistic and literary promotions. Further, the ARSP regularly organises International Conferences, Seminars and Symposia on relevant diaspora related subjects and has organized three PIO Parliamentarians’ Conferences. ARSP actively promotes inter-cultural understanding and appreciation, and strives to enhance connectivity with the diaspora.

ARSP publishes a monthly newsletter, ‘ARSP Bulletin’, for the dissemination of Diaspora related issues and events. Over the years, ARSP has published books under the series “Mother India’s Children Abroad” on countries like South Africa, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Suriname, Malaysia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, East Africa, Australia & New Zealand.

ARSP maintains contacts with Diplomatic Missions of India in diaspora countries and those of diaspora countries in India and organises special sessions for the diaspora youth visiting India under the Government’s ‘Know India Programme (KIP)’. The ARSP regularly interacts with the leadership of countries like Mauritius, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal and Bhutan.

The ARSP has its own building, the ‘Pravasi Bhawan’ located at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi.