What's behind the 31% decline in Indian students going abroad?
India Today
Are fewer Indian students chasing the global classroom dream? Fresh government data suggests so. The number of Indians heading abroad for higher education has dropped by nearly 31 per cent in just two years, pointing to a noticeable shift in study-abroad trends and student preferences.
The number of Indian students pursuing higher education abroad has witnessed a steady decline over the past three years, according to data shared by the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to a written question in the Upper House, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar revealed that over 9.08 lakh Indian students travelled overseas for studies in 2023. The figure fell to 7.7 lakh in 2024 and further declined to 6.26 lakh in 2025, marking an overall drop of nearly 31 per cent in two years.
The data, sourced from the Union Home Ministry’s Bureau of Immigration (BoI), reflects outbound student movement between 2023 and 2025.
Addressing the trend, Majumdar stated that studying abroad remains a matter of “individual will and choice,” influenced by multiple factors including affordability, access to education loans, exposure to foreign societies, and aptitude for specific academic disciplines.
He noted that the government recognises the dynamics of a global knowledge economy and views India’s diaspora as an asset.
“A successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora is viewed as an asset to India. The government's efforts are aimed at harnessing the potential of the diaspora, including the sharing of knowledge and expertise,” he said.
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