The number of Indian students pursuing higher education abroad has seen a substantial increase, reaching 13,35,878 in 2024, according to recent data released by the Ministry of External Affairs. This marks a significant rise from 13,18,955 students in 2023 and 9,07,404 in 2022.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh provided these statistics in response to queries in the Rajya Sabha. Among the Indian students studying abroad, Canada has emerged as the most popular destination, with 4,27,000 students currently enrolled there. The United States follows as the second most preferred destination, hosting 3,37,630 Indian students.
Other countries with notable numbers of Indian students include China, with approximately 8,580 students, Greece with eight, Israel with 900, Pakistan with 14, and Ukraine with 2,510.
Singh highlighted that Indian missions and posts abroad actively engage with students through various initiatives. These include welcoming ceremonies for first-time travelers and briefings on security issues in host countries. The Indian missions also encourage students to register with them or on the Global Rishta Portal for better communication and support.
The government has been working to ease international travel for Indian students by advocating for visa-free entry and visa-on-arrival facilities in more countries.
Singh emphasized the role of Indian missions in collecting data through voluntary registrations and coordinating with host governments to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on the number of Indian students studying overseas.
Sources By Agencies