Number of Indians studying abroad fell by 15% in 2024, shows government data

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

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

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.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have also escalated over the past year. In October 2023, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India amid a row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which allegedly involved agents of the Indian government. The situation worsened in October 2024 when both countries expelled each other’s diplomats following fresh accusations.

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia also saw a drop in the number of Indian students. In the US, figures declined to 2,04,058 in 2024 from 2,34,473 in 2023. Indian students in the UK decreased to 98,890 from 1,36,921, down...

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