Surge in Indian students shifting to Russia; numbers fall in US, Canada, and UK, Modi govt tells Parliament

The variety of Indian students finding out overseas has fallen by 15 p.c in 2024 in contrast to 2023, in accordance to the numbers shared by training ministry.

Canada, as soon as a favorite vacation spot for larger training, registered a big 41 per cent decline in the variety of students from India in 2024, in accordance to the reply in the Parliament, the place the second leg of the Budget session started on Monday.

The variety of Indian students going to Russia elevated in 2024 by 34 per cent in contrast to 2023, the training ministry stated, as first reported by the Print.

According to a reply by the training minister in the parliament, as many as 7,503,65 students have been finding out overseas in 2022. This quantity went up to 8,92,989 in 2023 however got here down to 7,59,064 in 2024, registering a lower of 1,33,920 students. The query was requested by ET Mohammed Basheer, an MP representing Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

Basheer, the MP from Malappuram, Kerala, has requested 5 questions to the ministry. He requested for (a) the small print of whole variety of students from India pursuing research in international international locations over the last three years, country-wise; (b) whether or not the federal government is conscious that vast variety of Indian students are falling in lure for false guarantees of Agencies providing training overseas and half time job; (c) whether or not the federal government proposes any Scheme for the welfare of students finding out overseas in case of emergency; and (d) whether or not the federal government has an unique portal or helpline in international international locations to deal with the emergencies confronted by the students overseas?

Breakdown of nations

The ministry responded with total and nation clever breakdown of Indian students in international international locations.

Canada, US see a drop in Indian students

In 2024, the variety of students finding out Canada, with the determine was 1,37,608, a drop of about 95,924 or 41 per cent from 2,33,532 Indian students in the nation in 2023.

Remember, Canada tightened pupil visa rules in 2024, main to elevated visa rejections and cancellation of examine permits in the nation.

The decline in variety of Indian students in Canada comes in the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the 2 international locations. In October 2023, Canada recalled 41 diplomats from India amid a row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Worse, in October 2024, the 2 international locations expelled one another’s diplomats amid accusations and counter-accusations associated to Nijjar’s killing.

Not simply Canada, international locations like United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia have additionally registered a decline in variety of Indians in 2024.

The variety of Indian students in the US, for instance, got here down from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 204,058 in 2024. The United States noticed a change of guard with Republican Donald Trump changing Democrat Joe Biden because the US President. The decline in the variety of students heading to US may as nicely be due to the uncertainties with the brand new administration in place.

Similarly, the variety of Indian students finding out in the UK has additionally come down from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024. This is a decline of about 28 per cent in a yr’s time.

Australia additionally noticed a drop from 78,093 Indian students in 2023 to 68,572 in 2024.

More Indian students headed to Russia

While the variety of students headed to the US, the UK and Candada has come down, these finding out in international locations like Russia, France and Germany had gone up.

In case of Russia, there have been 9,784 students in 2022. This went up to 23,503 in 2023 and to 31,444 Indian students in 2024. In France too, the variety of Indian students went up from 6,406 in 2022 to 8,536 in 2024.

In Germany, the variety of pupil numbers was 34,702 students in 2024 in contrast to 20,684 in 2022. Similarly, in case of New Zealand, the variety of Indian students rose from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024, the ministry stated.

“Studies abroad are a matter of individual will and choice. Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been set up by government of India in all Indian Missions and Posts abroad to meet the contingency expenditure incurred by Indian Citizens including Indian students studying abroad,” it stated.

The Ministry additionally stated that ICWF’s major goal was to present on-site welfare on a means-tested foundation. “Indian Missions /Posts abroad also encourage Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them and on the MADAD Portal so that their grievances and issues can be addressed in a time-bound manner,” it stated.