15% drop in Indians studying abroad, shows government data

The number of Indians studying abroad fell by nearly 15% in 2024 from the previous year, according to government data presented in Parliament on Monday. There was a sharp decline in students opting for Canada.

A total of 7,59,064 Indian students went abroad for education in 2024, compared to 8,92,989 in 2023 and 7,50,365 in 2022, said Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar while responding to a question by Indian Union Muslim League MP ET Mohammed Basheer.

Canada, once a preferred destination, saw a dramatic 41% drop, to 1,37,608 in 2024 from 2,33,532 students in 2023. The country tightened student visa rules last year, leading to higher rejection rates and cancellations of study permits.

In the US, figures declined to 2,04,058 in 2024 from 2,34,473 in 2023, a drop of nearly 13%. Indian students in the UK decreased to 98,890 from 1,36,921, down by nearly 28%. Australia saw a fall to 68,572 in 2024 from 78,093 students in 2023.

However, the number of Indian students going to Russia rose significantly, to 31,444 in 2024 from 23,503 in 2023, an increase of nearly 34%. France also saw a rise, to 8,536 in 2024 from 7,484 students in 2023. Germany had 34,702 Indian students in 2024, up from 20,684 in...

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