Lok Sabha Question No. 2081 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Students Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 2081 ANSWERED ON 9.12.2024

## Students Pursuing Higher Studies Abroad

†2081. Shri Murari Lal Meena:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is an increase in the number of students pursuing higher studies abroad during the last five years along with the reasons therefor;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  number  of  students  going  abroad  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard, year-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken cognizance that the students are going abroad for better career opportunities, flexible citizenship norms and quality education;
- (d) if so, the measures adopted by the Government to address the same;
- (e) the policy reforms and measures adopted by the Government in respect of Universities and institutes to revamp higher education in the country and to prevent the students going abroad; and
- (f) whether the Government has formulated any special scheme to develop educational and research institutes of international standard in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

- (a) to (f):    The Ministry of Education does not maintain data related to Indian students going abroad for higher studies. As per information provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), the number of Indians who disclosed their purpose of visit as STUDY/EDUCATION while going abroad in the last five years is under:

| Year               |   2019 |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |
|--------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Number of Students | 586337 | 259655 | 444553 | 750365 | 892989 |

Studies abroad are a matter of individual will and choice. Government of India has taken comprehensive action to ensure availability of high-quality education at every level in India.  The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was framed and approved by the Government of India to transform and improve the quality  of  education  in  the  country.  The  key  aspects  of  NEP  2020  include,  moving  towards multidisciplinary and holistic education, institutional autonomy, promotion of quality research through establishment of National Research Foundation, skill development, continuous professional development of teachers, integration of technology, internationalisation of higher education, multidisciplinary curricula, engaging pedagogy, blended assessment and promotion of Indian languages and Indian Knowledge Systems.

Government of India has undertaken several initiatives to ensure availability of quality education in the higher  education  domain  through  infrastructure  upgradation  of  the  institutions,  accreditation  of institutions  and courses,  promotion of research & innovation and augmenting the digital  initiatives. Some of the initiatives are:

-  Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)/ Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme provides financial support to State Governments under three components, (i)  Enhancing  quality  and  excellence  in  select  state  universities,  (ii)  Infrastructure  grants  to universities, and (iii) multi-disciplinary education and research universities (MERU).
-  PM VidyaLaxmi Scheme aims to provide support to any student getting admission in quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs).
-  Promotion  of  accreditation  of  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  through National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to ensure quality education.
-  To assess the qualitative competence of the programs offered by educational institution from diploma level to post-graduate level by National Board of Accreditation (NBA).
-  Established 8 Research Parks at premier institutions to serve as hubs for innovation, knowledge creation and have research collaboration with top-rated industries, to enable entrepreneurship and incubation of students and building strong academic linkages.
-  Established Anusandhan National Research Foundation which aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India's universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
-  Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) to encourage research collaboration between top Indian Institutes with the premier foreign institutes;
-  One Nation, One Subscription initiative to provide centralized access to high-quality academic resources,  research  papers,  and  journals  to  students,  researchers,  and  educators  across  the country;
-  To ensure high quality educational content to every learner through SWAYAM , SWAYAM Plus etc:

Further, University  Grants Commission (UGC) has also taken several initiatives to enhance the quality  of  education,  including  financial  support  to  HEIs.  Some  of  the  important  initiatives  are regulations for setting up and operation of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India (FHEIs) , Academic collaboration for Joint/Dual/Twinning degree programmes , Guidelines for Internship/Apprenticeship  Embedded  Degree  Program , establishment  of  Research  and Development  Cells  in  HEIs ,  promoted  the  concept  of Professor  of  Practice , Accessibility guidelines and standards for Higher Educational Institutions and Universities , started UTSAH Portal (Undertaking  Transformative  Strategies  and  Actions  in  Higher  Education)  to  track achievements of NEP 2020, issued Curriculum and Guidelines on Life Skills (Jeevan Kaushal) 2.0, Malaviya Mission Teachers Training Programme, etc.

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