Lok Sabha Question No. 1170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: QS World University Rankings
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, A.K.P. Chinraj, Balashowry Vallabbhaneni, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Supriya Sadanand Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2019

## QS World University Rankings

1170.  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ: SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  as  per  QS World  University  Rankings, currently  India is  only  second to China in terms of international student enrollment in schools across the globe;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has any details regarding the number of Indian students studying abroad during the last three years and the current year;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the courses they opted for, State/country-wise;
- (e) the problems faced by Indian students while studying abroad and the steps taken by the Government to address these problems; and
- (f)  whether students studying abroad have reported cases of assault/violence and if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure safety of Indian students abroad?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK' )

(a)  &  (b):  The  QS  ranking  is  generally  based  on  the  surveys  conducted  by  nongovernmental  agencies  and  gives  substantial  weightage  to  the  'perception'  factor which is inherently subjective. Given its size and population and the socio-economic and geographical diversities, Indian universities and Institutions are doing better than those  of  many  developing  countries. Variations  in  standards  of  Indian  Universities depends  on  a  number  of  factors  including  social,  economic  and  geographical conditions.

(c) & (d): As per information received from the Ministry of External Affairs, country-wise details of number of students who went abroad for higher studies,  in 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 are enclosed at Annexure-I.

(e) : Some of the major problems faced by Indian students while studying abroad are as follows:

- i. Misleading information about fees to be paid to the University or additional fees sought for various elements, sudden increase in fees etc ;
- ii. Sudden  closure  or  de-recognition  of  foreign  universities,  institutes/colleges, after student joins university and pays tuition fees ;
- iii. Fake calls asking students to make payments to avoid cancellation of student visa or deportation ;
- iv. Harassment by educational consultants/agents, University administration.
- v. Poor quality of hostel facilities ;
- vi. Medium  of  instructions  in  foreign  university  are  in  local  language  in  some countries ;
- vii. Issues of recognition of degree, equivalence of degree.

Various steps have been taken by the Ministry of External Affairs and  our Missions/Posts abroad to address the problems faced by the Indian students abroad. To safe guard the interest of Indian students going abroad, Ministry of External Affairs has  developed  a  'Students  Registration  Module'  within  the  MADAD  (Ministry  of External Affairs in Aid of Diaspora in Distress) portal to create a database of Indian students  going  abroad,  which  enables  them  to  register  voluntarily  and  provide  data about their courses, location, institution, duration of the course, etc. Also, a separate category  for  grievances  e.g.  related  to  fake  universities;  fraudulent  educational consultants/agents;  Safety  and  security  of  students  etc.  has  been  created  on  the portal.

Senior  officials  of  the  Indian  Missions/Posts  regularly  visit  local  universities  and colleges to meet Indian students to address their issues. Students Welfare officers of

Indian  Embassy  are  constantly  in  contact  with  Indian  students  association  and University  administrations.  There  are  informal  group  of  students  in  social  medial  to disseminate information about students related issues in many countries. Such groups are  in  touch  with  student  welfare  officers.  Advisory  on  dos  and  don'ts  in  foreign countries including issues related to fraudulent agents are issued by Indian Missions, which are placed on the website of the Mission. To  address  issues  pertaining  to  Indian  Students  abroad,  an  Expert  group,  having officials  from  stakeholders  Ministries  and  government  bodies  (Ministry  of  External Affairs,  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development,  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family Welfare,  Medical Council  of  India)  and senior  diplomats  based  in  Delhi  dealing  with Consular and Educational matters from select embassies (United States of America, United  Kingdom,  Canada,  Russia,  China,  Australia  etc.)  has  been  established. Further,  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  constantly  collaborates  with  various  foreign Missions in India on a number of issues, including Regulating agents and consultants, both in India and abroad.

(f):  A  few  cases  of  assault/violence  have  been  reported  by  the  students  that  have come to  the  notice  of Indian Missions.  To  ensure safety  of  Indian  students  abroad, Indian  Missions/Posts  abroad  are  regularly  in  touch  with  the  students  and  any instance  where  safety  of  the  students  is  concerned,  is  promptly  addressed  by  the Missions/Posts.

*****

| Sl. No.   |                      | No. of Indian students   | No. of Indian students   | No. of Indian students   | No. of Indian students   |                         | In S           |
|-----------|----------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|
|           | Country              | 2015-16                  | 2016-17                  | 2017-18                  | 2018-19                  | In Phd                  | Scien Nat Scie |
| 1         | Afghanistan          | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 2         | Albania              | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 3         | Algeria              | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 4         | Angola               | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 5         | Antigua & Barbuda    | Nil                      | Nil                      | 40                       | 40                       | Nil                     | N              |
| 6         | Argentina            | Nil                      | 1                        | Nil                      | Nil                      | 1                       | N              |
| 7         | Armenia              | Nil                      | 1100                     | 1400                     | 3000                     | Nil                     | N              |
| 8         | Australia            | 65802                    | 78103                    | 93832                    | 123851                   | 4644                    | 22             |
| 9         | Austria              | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | 180                     | Data Avail     |
| 10        | Bahrain              | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 11        | Bangladesh           | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained      | Data Not Maintained     | Data Maint     |
| 12        | Barbados             | 34                       | 34                       | 116                      | 160                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 13        | Belarus              | 221                      | 343                      | 476                      | 611                      | Not                     | N              |
| 14        | Belgium              | Not Available            | Not Available            | Not Available            | Not Available            | Available Not Available | Avail N Avail  |
| 15        | Bhutan               | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 16        | Bolivia              | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 17        | Botswana             | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 18        | Brazil               | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                      | Nil                     | N              |
| 19        | Brunei Darussalam    | 4                        | 5                        | 6                        | 6                        | 2                       | N              |
| 20        | Bulgaria & Macedonia | Not Available            | Not Available            | Not Available            | Not Available            | Not Available           | N Avail        |
| 21        | Canada               | 60969                    | 94240                    | 167060                   | 172600                   | Not                     | N              |
| 22        | Chile                | Nil                      | Nil                      | 1                        | Nil                      | Available 1             | Avail N        |

|   23 | China                | 2522          | 4244          | 4466          | 4675          | 65                      | 2             |
|------|----------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------------|---------------|
|   24 | Colombia             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   25 | Comoros              | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   26 | Congo (Dem. Rep. Of) | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   27 | Cook Islands         | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   28 | Costa Rica           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Not Available           | N Avail       |
|   29 | Cote d'Ivoire        | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   30 | Croatia              | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   31 | Cuba                 | 1             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   32 | Cyprus               | 670           | 1962          | 2360          | 2385          | Not Available           | N Avail       |
|   33 | Czech Republic       | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available           | N Avail       |
|   34 | Denmark              | 143           | 170           | 200           | 165           | 97                      | 6             |
|   35 | Egypt                | 115           | 121           | 153           | 155           | 1                       | N             |
|   36 | Eritrea              | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                     | N             |
|   37 | Estonia              | 100           | 139           | 138           | 211           | Not                     | N             |
|   38 | Ethiopia             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Available Nil           | Avail N       |
|   39 | Fiji                 | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Not                     | N             |
|   40 | Finland              | 817           | 897           | 795           | Not Available | Available Not Available | Avail N Avail |

|   41 | France    | Not Available   | 3291          | 4247          | Data would be published only after considering the September 2019 intake in the universities   | 502 (students were pursuing PhD studies in 2017- 2018)   | 5                                                                                    |
|------|-----------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   42 | Georgia   | Nil             | 3000          | 3000          | 14000                                                                                          | Nil                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   43 | Germany   | 9671            | 10820         | 5536          | 6335                                                                                           | 687                                                      | 46                                                                                   |
|   44 | Ghana     | Nil             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                                                                                            | Nil                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   45 | Greece    | Not Available   | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available                                                                                  | 2                                                        |                                                                                      |
|   46 | Guinea    | Nil             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                                                                                            | Nil                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   47 | Guyana    | 110             | 167           | 170           | 184                                                                                            | Nil                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   48 | Hong Kong | 365             | 480           | 500           | 1112                                                                                           | Not Available                                            | N Avail                                                                              |
|   49 | Hungary   | 194             | 313           | 506           | 727                                                                                            | 322                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   50 | Iceland   | 6               | 3             | 2             | 11                                                                                             | 10                                                       | N                                                                                    |
|   51 | Indonesia | 17              | 17            | 18            | 19                                                                                             | Nil                                                      | N                                                                                    |
|   52 | Iran      | Nil             | 55            | Nil           | Nil                                                                                            | 2                                                        | 255 + Aroun Indian Stude under Theolo studie Mashh who ar provid Consu Servic from C |
|   53 | Iraq      | Nil             | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                                                                                            | Nil                                                      | Zahida N                                                                             |
|   54 | Ireland   | 2333            | 2500          | 4478          | 4600                                                                                           | Not Available                                            | N Avail                                                                              |

|   55 | Italy      | 1591          | 2348          | 3008          | 4940          | Nil           | N          |
|------|------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|------------|
|   56 | Japan      | 244           | 259           | 297           | 357           | Not Available | N Avail    |
|   57 | Jordan     | Nil           | 1             | 2             | 1             | Not Available | N Avail    |
|   58 | Kazakhstan | 943           | 827           | 947           | 1067          | Nil           | Data maint |
|   59 | Kenya      | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | N          |
|   60 | Kiribati   | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Not Available | N Avail    |
|   61 | Korea      | 1112          | 1201          | 1450          | 1495          | Nil           | N          |
|   62 | Kuwait     | Not Available | 79            | 178           | Not Available | Nil           | N          |
|   63 | Kyrgyzstan | 1500          | 2000          | 2000          | 3500          | Nil           | N          |
|   64 | Lao PDR    | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | N          |
|   65 | Latvia     | Not           | 1600          | 1650          | 1850          | 8             | N          |
|   66 | Lebanon    | Nil           | Nil           | 5             | 5             | Nil           |            |
|   67 | Liberia    | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | N          |
|   68 | Lithuania  | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | N Avail    |

|   69 | Luxembourg       | Not Available       | Not Available       | Not Available       | Not Available       | Not Available       | N Avail    |
|------|------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|------------|
|   70 | Madagascar       | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   71 | Malawi           | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   72 | Malaysia         | Not Available       | 1774                | 1869                | 2263                | 385                 | 24         |
|   73 | Maldives         | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Not Available       | N Avail    |
|   74 | Mali             | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   75 | Malta            | 1                   | 2                   | 43                  | 162                 | 1                   | 2          |
|   76 | Mauritius        | 160                 | 175                 | 225                 | 250                 | 1                   |            |
|   77 | Mexico           | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Maint |
|   78 | Moldova          | 119                 | 104                 | 250                 | 262                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   79 | Mongolia         | Nil                 | 1                   | Nil                 | 1                   | Nil                 | N          |
|   80 | Morocco          | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   81 | Mozambique       | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   82 | Myanmar          | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   83 | Nauru            | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Not Available       | N Avail    |
|   84 | Nepal            | 603                 | 516                 | 387                 | 303                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   85 | Netherlands      | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | 50                  | 3          |
|   86 | Nicaragua        | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Not                 | N          |
|   87 | Niger            | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Available Nil       | Avail N    |
|   88 | Nigeria          | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   89 | Norway           | 179                 | 121                 | 172                 | 197                 | Not                 | N          |
|   90 | Oman             | Nil                 | 4                   | Nil                 | 2                   | Available Nil       | Avail N    |
|   91 | Pakistan         | 26                  | 23                  | 14                  | 33                  | Not                 | N          |
|   92 | Palestine        | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |
|   93 | Panama           | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Not                 | N          |
|   94 | Papua New Guinea | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Available Nil       | Avail N    |
|   95 | Peru             | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N          |

|   96 | Philippines         | 6000                | 8500                | 12500               | 14000               | Nil                 | N Avail              |
|------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|----------------------|
|   97 | Poland              | 418                 | 685                 | 975                 | 884                 | Data Not Maintained | Data Avail           |
|   98 | Portugal            | 21                  | 5                   | 5                   | 3                   | 16                  | N Avail              |
|   99 | Qatar               | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N                    |
|  100 | Reunion Island      | 4                   | 4                   | 2                   | 4                   | 2                   |                      |
|  101 | Romania             | 114                 | 68                  | 38                  | 110                 | Nil                 | N                    |
|  102 | Russia              | 6898                | 6903                | 11250               | 15600               | 8                   | 7 S Scie 10 Nat Scie |
|  103 | Rwanda              | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Not Available       | N Avail              |
|  104 | Sao Tome & Principe | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N                    |
|  105 | Saudi Arabia        | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | 810                 | 800                 | 20                  | 1                    |
|  106 | Serbia              | Nil                 | Nil                 | 1                   | Nil                 | Nil                 | N                    |
|  107 | Singapore           | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Not Maintained | Data Avail           |
|  108 | Slovakia            | 24                  | 9                   | 21                  | 3                   | Data Not Maintained | Data Avail           |
|  109 | Slovenia            | 3                   | 13                  | 10                  | 8                   | 8                   | 3                    |
|  110 | South Africa        | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | 20                  | 1                    |
|  111 | South Sudan         | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | Nil                 | N                    |
|  112 | Spain               | Not Available       | Not Available       | 692                 | 709                 | Not Available       | N Avail              |
|  113 | Sri Lanka           | 2                   | 1                   | 3                   | 8                   | 1                   | N                    |
|  114 | St. Kitts & Nevis   | 9                   | 11                  | 10                  | 20                  | Nil                 | Avail N              |
|  115 | St. Lucia           | 231                 | 231                 | 231                 | 330                 | Nil                 | N                    |

|   116 | St. Vincent & Grenadines   | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | 25                                | Nil           | N       |
|-------|----------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------------------------|---------------|---------|
|   117 | Sudan                      | 11            | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   118 | Suriname                   | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   119 | Sweden                     | Not Available | 2800          | 3000          | 3200                              | 252           | 3       |
|   120 | Switzerland                | 350           | 350           | Not Available | Not Available                     | 71            | 7       |
|   121 | Syria                      | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   122 | Tajikistan                 | 246           | 514           | 817           | 1199                              | Nil           | N       |
|   123 | Tanzania                   | Nil           | Nil           | 2             | 2                                 | Nil           | N       |
|   124 | Thailand                   | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | 436                               | 65            |         |
|   125 | Tonga                      | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Not Available | N Avail |
|   126 | Trinidad & Tobago          | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available                     | Nil           | N       |
|   127 | Turkey                     | 24            | 25            | 26            | 26                                | 42            |         |
|   128 | Turkmenistan               | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   129 | Tuvalu                     | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Not           | N       |
|   130 | UAE                        | Nil           | Nil           | 5500          | 8000                              | Not Available | N Avail |
|   131 | Uganda                     | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   132 | Ukraine                    | 7867          | 10963         | 10569         | 14000                             | Nil           | N       |
|   133 | United Kingdom             | 16745         | 16559         | 19750         | Figures have not been made public | Not Available | N Avail |
|   134 | USA                        | 385130        | 423863        | 437836        | 209063                            | 380145        | 50      |
|   135 | Uzbekistan                 | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Nil           | N       |
|   136 | Vanuatu                    | Nil           | Nil           | Nil           | Nil                               | Not Available | N Avail |

| 137   | Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, & St. Maarten   | 202    | 279    | 281    | 188    | Not Available   | N Avail   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-----------------|-----------|
| 138   | Vietnam                                    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | 3      | 1               | N         |
| 139   | Zambia                                     | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil             | N         |
| 140   | Zimbabwe                                   | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil             | N         |
|       | Total                                      | 574871 | 684823 | 806326 | 620156 | 387612          | 62        |

Note: In respect of some countries, year-wise and subject-wise data are not available. In those cases, the total number Remarks column.