Lok Sabha Question No. 1429 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Attacks on Indian Students
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1429 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## ATTACKS ON INDIAN STUDENTS

## 1429. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether incidents of attacks on Indian students studying abroad have come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government
- in this regard;
- (b) the steps taken by Central Government to ensure safety of
- Indian students studying abroad;
- (c) whether   any   help   desk   or   toll   free   number   has   been maintained by the Government to help such students in case of any attacks and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the country-wise number of students at present studying in different foreign universities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) Yes. As per information received from Indian Missions/Posts
- abroad,   21   incidents   of   attacks   on   Indian   students   from   10 countries   have   come   to   the   notice   of   the   Government   during 2017. Country-wise data is placed at Annexure-I.

Missions   took   up   the   issues   strongly   with   local   police authorities and concerned ministries of the foreign countries to ensure safety and security of Indian students. Advisories were issued and placed on the website of the Indian Missions to alert the Indian students.

- (b) The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Missions/Posts
- abroad   take   prompt   action   to   address   issues   pertaining   to security, safety and welfare of Indian students who are enrolled in foreign universities and educational institutions.

Indian   Missions   are   in   regular   contact   with   foreign governments,   universities   and   educational   institutions,   Indian student Associations and community organizations and take all possible measures to provide assistance to Indian students in foreign countries, as and when such issues arise.

Indian Student Welfare Officers have been designated in Indian Missions, in countries where there are large number of

Indian students enrolled.

Ministry and Missions also issue advisories asking them to carry all documentation and undertake due diligence to ensure that the foreign institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorization and capacities. (c) Yes. 24x7 helpline numbers are available in Missions, which are placed on the Mission's website for assistance of distressed Indians including students.  A comprehensive list of emergency numbers of Indian Missions is also placed on MEA website to help distressed Indians. (d) Based   on   inputs   received   from   Indian   Missions/Posts abroad,  a  list   of   country-wise   number   of   students   at   present studying in different foreign universities is at Annexure-II.

*****

ANNEXURE-I Country-wise incidents of attack on Indian students

| Sr. No.   | Name of Country   | Year-wise data   | Year-wise data   | Year-wise data        |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------|------------------|-----------------------|
|           |                   | 2015             | 2016             | 2017 (Up to November) |
| 1         | Australia         | Nil              | Nil              | 2                     |
| 2         | Bangladesh        | Nil              | Nil              | 1                     |
| 3         | Bulgaria          | Nil              | 1                | 1                     |
| 4         | France            | Nil              | 1                | 1                     |
| 5         | Germany           | 4                | Nil              | Nil                   |
| 6         | Kazakhstan        | Nil              | 1                | Nil                   |
| 7         | Kyrgyzstan        | 5                | Nil              | Nil                   |
| 8         | Malaysia          | 3                | Nil              | Nil                   |
| 9         | Nepal             | 1                | Nil              | Nil                   |
| 10        | USA               | Nil              | Nil              | 1                     |
| 11        | Italy             | Nil              | Nil              | 3                     |
| 12        | Poland            | Nil              | Nil              | 9                     |
| 13        | Guyana            | Nil              | Nil              | 1                     |
| 14        | Russia            | Nil              | Nil              | 1                     |
| 15        | Czech Republic    | Nil              | Nil              | 1                     |
| 16        | Ukraine           | Nil              | 2                | Nil                   |
|           | Total             |                  |                  | 21                    |

*****

ANNEXURE-II

Indian Students studying in Foreign Universities

| Sr. No.   | List of estimated Indian students pursuing studies in foreign Universities (based on inputs received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad as on 19.12.2017)   | List of estimated Indian students pursuing studies in foreign Universities (based on inputs received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad as on 19.12.2017)   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Antigua & Barbuda                                                                                                                                          | 40                                                                                                                                                         |
| 2         | Armenia                                                                                                                                                    | 1100                                                                                                                                                       |
| 3         | Australia                                                                                                                                                  | 66700                                                                                                                                                      |
| 4         | Austria                                                                                                                                                    | 300                                                                                                                                                        |
| 5         | Azerbaijan                                                                                                                                                 | 15                                                                                                                                                         |
| 6         | Bahrain                                                                                                                                                    | 27200                                                                                                                                                      |
| 7         | Bangladesh                                                                                                                                                 | 3610                                                                                                                                                       |
| 8         | Belarus                                                                                                                                                    | 343                                                                                                                                                        |
| 9         | Barbados                                                                                                                                                   | 116                                                                                                                                                        |
| 10        | Belgium                                                                                                                                                    | 600                                                                                                                                                        |
| 11        | Bosnia Herzegovina                                                                                                                                         | 2                                                                                                                                                          |
| 12        | Brazil                                                                                                                                                     | 24                                                                                                                                                         |
| 13        | Brunei Darussalam                                                                                                                                          | 23                                                                                                                                                         |
| 14        | Bulgaria                                                                                                                                                   | 297                                                                                                                                                        |
| 15        | Canada                                                                                                                                                     | 100000                                                                                                                                                     |
| 16        | Chile                                                                                                                                                      | 40                                                                                                                                                         |
| 17        | China                                                                                                                                                      | 18171                                                                                                                                                      |
| 18        | Cuba                                                                                                                                                       | 7                                                                                                                                                          |
| 19        | Curacao                                                                                                                                                    | 279                                                                                                                                                        |
| 20        | Cyprus                                                                                                                                                     | 2790                                                                                                                                                       |
| 21        | Czech Republic                                                                                                                                             | 400                                                                                                                                                        |
| 22        | Denmark                                                                                                                                                    | 274                                                                                                                                                        |
| 23        | Egypt                                                                                                                                                      | 150                                                                                                                                                        |
| 25        | Finland                                                                                                                                                    | 904                                                                                                                                                        |
|           | France                                                                                                                                                     | 5000                                                                                                                                                       |
| 26        |                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                            |
| 27        | France (Reunion Is.)                                                                                                                                       | 3                                                                                                                                                          |
| 28 29     | Georgia Germany                                                                                                                                            | 3000 13740                                                                                                                                                 |
| 30        | Greece                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                          |
| 31        | Guyana                                                                                                                                                     | 170                                                                                                                                                        |
| 32 33     | Hong Kong Hungary                                                                                                                                          | 350 652                                                                                                                                                    |
| 34        | Iceland                                                                                                                                                    | 10                                                                                                                                                         |
| 35        | Indonesia                                                                                                                                                  | 17                                                                                                                                                         |
| 36        | Iran                                                                                                                                                       | 1000                                                                                                                                                       |
| 37        | Ireland                                                                                                                                                    | 2300                                                                                                                                                       |
| 38        | Israel                                                                                                                                                     | 550                                                                                                                                                        |
|           | Italy                                                                                                                                                      | 2000                                                                                                                                                       |
| 39        | Japan                                                                                                                                                      | 1015                                                                                                                                                       |
| 40        |                                                                                                                                                            | 4                                                                                                                                                          |
| 41        | Jordan                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                            |
| 42        | Kazakhstan                                                                                                                                                 | 2400                                                                                                                                                       |
| 43        | Korea (Republic of)                                                                                                                                        | 1187                                                                                                                                                       |
| 44        | Kuwait Kyrgyzstan                                                                                                                                          | 50 7000                                                                                                                                                    |
| 45        | Latvia                                                                                                                                                     | 700                                                                                                                                                        |
| 46 47     | Lebanon                                                                                                                                                    | 4                                                                                                                                                          |
| 48        | Libya                                                                                                                                                      | 9                                                                                                                                                          |
| 49        | Lithuania                                                                                                                                                  | 850                                                                                                                                                        |
| 50        | Malaysia                                                                                                                                                   | 1900                                                                                                                                                       |
| 51        | Mauritius                                                                                                                                                  | 500                                                                                                                                                        |
| 52        | Mexico                                                                                                                                                     | 100                                                                                                                                                        |

| 53   | Moldova                      |    104 |
|------|------------------------------|--------|
| 54   | Mongolia                     |      1 |
| 55   | Nepal                        |   2000 |
| 56   | Netherlands                  |   2500 |
| 57   | New Zealand                  |  30000 |
| 58   | Niger                        |      5 |
| 59   | Norway                       |    250 |
| 60   | Oman                         |   3000 |
| 61   | Philippines                  |   8500 |
| 62   | Poland                       |   2500 |
| 63   | Portugal                     |     75 |
| 64   | Romania                      |    200 |
| 65   | Russian Federation           |   6500 |
| 66   | Rwanda                       |     20 |
| 67   | Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of)    |    810 |
| 68   | Serbia                       |      1 |
| 69   | Slovenia                     |     42 |
| 70   | Singapore                    |   2435 |
| 71   | Slovakia                     |     18 |
| 72   | South Africa                 |    180 |
| 73   | Spain                        |    650 |
| 74   | Sri Lanka                    |     16 |
| 75   | St. Lucia                    |    231 |
| 76   | St. Kitts & Nevis            |     10 |
| 77   | Sudan                        |     15 |
| 78   | Sweden                       |   5050 |
| 79   | Switzerland                  |   1555 |
| 80   | Tajikistan                   |    850 |
| 81   | Tanzania                     |   1220 |
| 82   | Thailand                     |    297 |
| 83   | Turkey                       |     57 |
| 84   | Ukraine                      |   8000 |
| 85   | United Arab Emirates (Dubai) |    500 |
| 86   | United Kingdom (2015-16)     |  14830 |
| 87   | United States of America     | 206708 |
| 88   | Uzbekistan                   |     50 |
|      | TOTAL                        | 567227 |

*****