In a modest increase from the previous year, the number of Indian students studying abroad has risen to 1.33 million in 2024, up from 1.31 million in 2023, according to a recent disclosure by the Indian government in the upper house of Parliament.
Data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlights a significant growth in the number of Indian students pursuing education overseas, escalating from 675,541 in 2019 to 1,335,878 in 2024. This marks an increase from the 1,318,955 students recorded in 2023.
Canada remains the leading destination for Indian students, hosting approximately 427,000. It is followed by the United States with 337,630 students, the United Kingdom with 185,000, Australia with 122,202, and Germany with 42,997.
The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has notably impacted student mobility, with the number of Indian students in Ukraine declining sharply from 11,987 in 2023 to 2,510 in 2024.
Medical education continues to be a primary driver of international student mobility from India, with East and Central Asian countries among the top study destinations. China, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines have emerged as popular locations, hosting 8,580, 16,093, 4,100, and 9,665 Indian students, respectively.
Addressing a parliamentary question, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh assured that Indian missions abroad are actively engaging with students. He noted that Indian missions encourage students to register with them or the Global Rishta Portal, organize welcome ceremonies for newcomers, and brief them on security matters in their host countries.
“Indian missions use voluntary registrations to collect data on Indian students abroad and coordinate with local authorities to obtain accurate numbers,” Singh explained.
Despite a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, which has led to restrictions on study permits and concerns over employment and housing, the number of Indian students in Canada has seen only a slight decrease from 427,085 in 2023 to 427,000 in 2024. However, safety concerns for Indian students abroad could potentially impact these figures further.
Singh reported that 633 Indian students have died abroad over the past five years, with Canada recording the highest number at 172 deaths. Violent incidents have accounted for 18 student deaths, with Canada having the highest toll of nine. Other countries reporting such deaths include the US with six, and China, the UK, and Australia each with one.
The remaining 614 fatalities were due to accidents or medical issues, with Canada again recording the highest number at 163 deaths, as per the data released by the Ministry of External Affairs.
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