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The number of Indian students abroad continues to surge
Over 13 lakh Indian students are pursuing higher studies abroad in 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament on Thursday. In a written response in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh shared the data showing that 13,35,878 Indian students were pursuing higher studies abroad in 2024.
Mr. Singh also shared country details of Indian students, spanning 108 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Singapore, Russia, Israel and Ukraine.
The numbers grow steadily
The data showed that in 2024, of the 13.35 Indian students, 4,27,000 were studying in Canada, 3,37,630 students in the US, 8,580 in China, eight in Greece, 900 in Israel, 14 in Pakistan, and 2,510 in Ukraine.
For 2023, the figure was 13,18,955, while it was 9,07,404 in 2022. It was 9,07,404 in 2022, 11,58,702 in 2021, 6,85,097 in 2020 and 6,75,541 in 2019.
"Indian Missions and posts abroad constantly engage with Indian students studying overseas and encourage them to register with them or on the Global Rishta Portal. They organise 'Welcome Ceremonies' for Indian students who travel abroad for the first time and brief them on security issues in the host countries," the minister said. "The Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs of India also collects data of Indian students travelling abroad either through their voluntary disclosures or through the type of Visas issued to them by their destination countries."
Ease in visa norms
"They also advise them to regularly stay connected. Indian missions and posts collect data on Indian students through voluntary registrations. The missions also coordinate with the authorities in the host countries to secure data," the minister added.
In response to a question, Mr. Singh said the government of India has been continuously making efforts to "increase" the number of countries that may provide visa-free entry and visa-on-arrival to Indians for ease of travelling around the world.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)