Lok Sabha Question No. 3820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Students Studying Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.P. Chaudhary, Feroze Varun Gandhi, M. K. Raghavan, Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3820

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2022

## STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD

## 3820.SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI: SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has been maintained a data base of Indian students studying abroad for various courses in foreign universities along   with   the   number   of   students   enrolled   abroad   in   medical courses, country-wise including Ukraine;
- (b) the number of students who have returned to India due to Ukraine crisis;
- (c) whether the Government has any scheme for the welfare of Indian students studying in foreign universities, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any scheme for the welfare of foreign students studying in India, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether Indian embassy in various countries are facing shortage of sufficient staff strength, if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken to remove such a scarcity; and
- (f) whether the Government plans to open an IIT in UAE, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) According to the data available with the Ministry, there are approximately 1.3 million Indian students who are studying abroad in various courses. However, specific data of students enrolled in Medical courses is not available. A list of number of students in different countries is enclosed as Annexure -I. Around 22,500 Indians including students have returned to India due to Ukraine crisis.

(c) Welfare of Indians abroad, including students, is top priority of the Government of India. MADAD portal, launched in February 2015, extends helping hand to all Indians abroad. Student Module of the MADAD portal, launched on 15 July, 2016, enables Indian students abroad to register voluntarily   and   provide   data   about   their   course,   location,   institution, duration of the course, etc. besides creating a database of Indian students going abroad.  Separately, the India Centre for Migration, a think tank of

the Ministry, has prepared a 'Student Handbook for Studying Abroad', providing basic information to students intending to study overseas. The Ministry   through   its   Missions/Posts   abroad   has   also   been   regularly interacting with the Indian students studying abroad. The Ministry and Indian Missions abroad issue advisories, from time to time, asking Indian students   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. In addition, the Ambassadors / High Commissioners and Senior officials in Missions abroad visit local universities and colleges to meet Indian students & address their issues. Missions also conduct Open Houses for students and NRIs to meet the Mission Head and other officers. Missions are also in constant touch with Indian student Associations and University administrations. In case of any distress, students are also assisted under Indian Community Weflare Fund (ICWF).

(d) The   following   Schemes   are   running for   the   welfare   of   foreign students studying in India:-

(i)     Study In India (SII) programme under Ministry of Education  provides scholarships   in   form   of   tuition   fee   waiver   upto   100%   to   selected meritorious   foreign   students   to   study   in   Indian   universities.   The programme   involves   partnership with 150   plus select Indian institutes/universities.

(ii)     A scholarship of Rs. 2.50 lakh per student per year is awarded to meritorious student from all over the world under Champion Services Sector Scheme (CSSS).

(iii)   Foreign Students Office have been established by 164 universities.

(iv) Scholarship   Programme   for   Diaspora   children   (SPDC)   provides scholarship for PIO children.

(e) Ministry   of   External Affairs regularly   reviews   the   requirement   of manpower at various levels in Missions and Posts abroad as well as at the Headquarters,   and   takes   appropriate   action,   including   recruitment   of additional officers and staff, through placement of requisite indents with the Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission respectively,   in   case   of   shortfall. Vacancies   at   Diplomatic   or   Consular levels in Indian Missions/Posts abroad are regularly reviewed and officers appointed. Generally, gaps between the departure of incumbents and the arrival of their successors are kept to a minimum. However, as the posting chains often involve several officers, on some occasions, Missions/Posts abroad may face some short-term vacancies.

(f) Yes,   the   Joint   India-UAE   Vision   Statement   issued   at   the   Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on February 15, 2022 mentioned that both leaders agreed to establish IIT in the UAE in view of the historical relations between two countries and to encourage and support innovation and technological progress.

Annexure -I Estimated Data of Indian students studying abroad (in 2022)

|   S.No. | Name of Country   | No. of Students   |
|---------|-------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | Armenia           | 8,015             |
|       2 | Australia         | 1,00,009          |
|       3 | Austria           | 350               |
|       4 | Azerbaijan        | 119               |
|       5 | Bangladesh        | 9,308             |
|       6 | Belarus           | 793               |
|       7 | Belgium           | 766               |
|       8 | Botswana          | 200               |
|       9 | Brazil            | 6                 |
|      10 | Brunei Darussalam | 38                |
|      11 | Bulgaria          | 357               |
|      12 | Canada            | 1,83,310          |
|      13 | China             | 6,436             |
|      14 | Cuba              | 1                 |
|      15 | Cyprus            | 1,961             |
|      16 | Czech Republic    | 1,500             |
|      17 | Denmark           | 413               |
|      18 | Egypt             | 400               |
|      19 | Estonia           | 138               |
|      20 | Finland           | 519               |
|      21 | France            | 10,003            |
|      22 | Georgia           | 14,000            |
|      23 | Germany           | 34,864            |
|      24 | Greece            | 48                |
|      25 | Guyana            | 498               |
|      26 | Hong Kong         | 815               |
|      27 | Hungary           | 932               |
|      28 | Iceland           | 16                |
|      29 | Indonesia         | 1                 |
|      30 | Iran              | 2,050             |
|      31 | Ireland           | 5,000             |
|      32 | Israel            | 1,218             |

|   33. | Italy             | 5,897   |
|-------|-------------------|---------|
|    34 | Japan             | 1,302   |
|    35 | Kazakhstan        | 3,855   |
|    36 | Kyrgyzstan        | 14,500  |
|    37 | Latvia            | 1,000   |
|    38 | Lithuania         | 1,000   |
|    39 | Luxembourg        | 2       |
|    40 | Malaysia          | 3,331   |
|    41 | Malta             | 450     |
|    42 | Mauritius         | 147     |
|    43 | Mexico            | 108     |
|    44 | Moldova           | 705     |
|    45 | Nepal             | 2300    |
|    46 | Netherlands       | 3,200   |
|    47 | New Zealand       | 2,664   |
|    48 | Norway            | 480     |
|    49 | Oman              | 39,550  |
|    50 | Panama            | 191     |
|    51 | Philippines       | 15,000  |
|    52 | Poland            | 5,000   |
|    53 | Portugal          | 19      |
|    54 | Qatar             | 46,000  |
|    55 | Republic of Korea | 1,364   |
|    56 | Romania           | 805     |
|    57 | Russia Federation | 18,039  |
|    58 | Saudi Arabia      | 65,800  |
|    59 | Serbia            | 5       |
|    60 | Singapore         | 10,000  |
|    61 | Slovakia          | 202     |
|    62 | Slovenia          | 36      |
|    63 | South Africa      | 335     |
|    64 | Spain             | 1383    |
|    65 | Sri Lanka         | 68      |
|    66 | Sudan             | 3       |
|    67 | Sweden            | 2,500   |
|    68 | Switzerland       | 3,980   |
|    69 | Taiwan            | 2,239   |
|    70 | Tajikistan        | 1,250   |

| 71.   | Thailand             | 364       |
|-------|----------------------|-----------|
| 72.   | Turkey               | 193       |
| 73.   | Ukraine*             | -         |
| 74.   | United Arab Emirates | 1,64,000  |
| 75.   | United Kingdom       | 55,465    |
| 76.   | USA                  | 4,65,791  |
| 77.   | Uzbekistan           | 250       |
| 78.   | Venezuela            | 93        |
| 79.   | Vietnam              | 4         |
| Total | Total                | 13,24,954 |

* In Ukraine - As per our information all students have been evacuated from Ukraine.

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