Lok Sabha Question No. 19 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Safety of Indian Students Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-19

## ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## SAFETY OF INDIAN STUDENTS ABROAD

## *19.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced any scheme/initiatives to promote awareness and provide for the well-being of Indian students in foreign   countries,   if   so,   the   details   thereof   and   if   not,   the   reasons therefor;
- (b) the total number of Indian students in foreign universities across the world, especially in USA, UK, Canada, Germany and Australia who have died/been killed during the last five years, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh;  and
- (c) whether the Government has any existing policy regarding the safety and protection of   Indian   students   in   potential/existing   conflict-prone areas across the world, if so, the details thereof and the total number of Indian students rescued from conflict zones during the last three years, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 19 for reply on 02.02.2024 regarding 'Safety of Indian Students Abroad'.

The welfare of Indian students abroad is one of the foremost priorities for   the   Government   of   India.   Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad     arrange welcome   ceremonies   for   students   enrolled   for   studying   in   foreign universities,   encouraging   them   to   register   with   the   Missions/Posts. Wherever   Indian   students   are   enrolled   in   Universities   abroad,   the Missions keep in regular touch with them. Heads of Mission/Post and senior officials visit Universities and educational institutions for regular interactions with Indian students and student associations.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad respond to any issues faced by Indian students on priority basis. Grievances are responded through various channels like calls, walk-ins, e-mails, social media, 24x7 Helplines, Open Houses, and MADAD portal. Any complaints received from the students abroad   are   taken   up   with   the   concerned   universities/educational institutions and the host government as the case may be, for requisite action. Our Missions and Posts remain vigilant and closely monitor the well being of  students. In case there is any untoward incident, it is immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that the incident is properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished. During emergency or crisis situations, our Missions/Posts abroad pro-actively help distressed/stranded Indian students in terms of providing food, shelter, medicine and return passage to India. Operation Ganga   &   Operation   Ajay   are   two   notable   examples   of   operations launched recently where Government evacuated Indian students.

As per the information available with the Ministry, 403 incidents of death of Indian students abroad have been reported since 2018 due to various reasons including natural causes, accidents and medical conditions. Country-wise details of  death of  Indian students abroad is placed at 'Annexure-A.'

As per information available with the Ministry, 23,906 Indian nationals, including students, have been evacuated  from conflict zones during the last three years. State-wise details of  Indian nationals rescued from abroad is placed at 'Annexure-B'.

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| Country Wise Details of Death of Indian Students Abroad since 2018   | Country Wise Details of Death of Indian Students Abroad since 2018   | Country Wise Details of Death of Indian Students Abroad since 2018   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                              | Country                                                              | No. of incidents                                                     |
| 1                                                                    | Australia                                                            | 35                                                                   |
| 2                                                                    | Bangladesh                                                           | 4                                                                    |
| 3                                                                    | Belgium                                                              | 1                                                                    |
| 4                                                                    | Bulgaria                                                             | 1                                                                    |
| 5                                                                    | Canada                                                               | 91                                                                   |
| 6                                                                    | China                                                                | 9                                                                    |
| 7                                                                    | Cyprus                                                               | 14                                                                   |
| 8                                                                    | Czech Republic                                                       | 3                                                                    |
| 9                                                                    | Egypt                                                                | 3                                                                    |
| 10                                                                   | Finland                                                              | 4                                                                    |
| 11                                                                   | France                                                               | 4                                                                    |
| 12                                                                   | Germany                                                              | 20                                                                   |
| 13                                                                   | Guyana                                                               | 1                                                                    |
| 14                                                                   | Italy                                                                | 10                                                                   |
| 15                                                                   | Kazakhstan                                                           | 5                                                                    |
| 16                                                                   | Kenya                                                                | 1                                                                    |
| 17                                                                   | Korea (ROK)                                                          | 3                                                                    |
| 18                                                                   | Kyrgyzstan                                                           | 9                                                                    |
| 19                                                                   | Malta                                                                | 1                                                                    |
| 20                                                                   | Norway                                                               | 1                                                                    |
| 21                                                                   | Pakistan                                                             | 1                                                                    |
| 22                                                                   | Philippines                                                          | 10                                                                   |
| 23                                                                   | Qatar                                                                | 9                                                                    |
| 24                                                                   | Romania                                                              | 2                                                                    |
| 25                                                                   | Russia                                                               | 40                                                                   |
| 26                                                                   | South Africa                                                         | 1                                                                    |
| 27                                                                   | Spain                                                                | 3                                                                    |
| 28                                                                   | Suriname                                                             | 3                                                                    |
| 29                                                                   | Sweden & Latvia                                                      | 2                                                                    |
| 30                                                                   | Switzerland                                                          | 1                                                                    |
| 31                                                                   | Taiwan                                                               | 6                                                                    |
| 32                                                                   | Ukraine                                                              | 21                                                                   |
| 33                                                                   | U.K.                                                                 | 48                                                                   |
| 34                                                                   | USA                                                                  | 36                                                                   |
|                                                                      | Total                                                                | 403                                                                  |

## Annexure- A

## Annexure- B

State-Wise Details of Indians Repatriated from Abroad

| Sl. No.                | State / Union Territory       |   Number of People |
|------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------|
| 1                      | Andaman & Nicobar             |                  4 |
| 2                      | Andhra Pradesh                |                833 |
| 3                      | Arunachal Pradesh             |                  1 |
| 4                      | Assam                         |                 86 |
| 5                      | Bihar                         |               1402 |
| 6                      | Chandigarh                    |                 53 |
| 7                      | Chhattisgarh                  |                219 |
| 8 Dadar & Nagar Haveli |                               |                  5 |
| 9                      | Daman & Diu                   |                  5 |
| 10                     | Delhi                         |                744 |
| 11                     | Goa                           |                 21 |
| 12                     | Gujarat                       |               1546 |
| 13                     | Haryana                       |               1503 |
| 14                     | Himachal Pradesh              |                332 |
| 15 Jammu &             | Kashmir                       |                138 |
| 16                     | Jharkhand                     |                233 |
| 17                     | Karnataka                     |               1072 |
| 18                     | Kerala                        |               3636 |
| 19                     | Lakshadweep                   |                  4 |
| 20                     | Madhya Pradesh                |                446 |
| 21                     | Maharashtra                   |               1470 |
| 22                     | Manipur                       |                 47 |
| 23                     | Meghalaya                     |                 42 |
| 24                     | Mizoram                       |                  2 |
| 25                     | Nagaland                      |                  9 |
| 26                     | Odisha                        |                503 |
| 27                     | Puducherry                    |                 35 |
| 28                     | Punjab                        |                680 |
| 29                     | Rajasthan                     |               1054 |
| 30                     | Sikkim                        |                 37 |
| 31                     | Tamil Nadu                    |               1854 |
| 32                     | Telangana                     |                866 |
| 33                     | Tripura                       |                 32 |
| 34                     | Uttar Pradesh                 |               2862 |
| 35                     | Uttarakhand                   |                295 |
| 36 West                | Bengal                        |                643 |
| 37                     | Others (states not specified) |               1192 |
| Total                  | Total                         |              23906 |

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