Lok Sabha Question No. 894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Indian Students studying Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Shri Shafi Parambil, Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No-894

ANSWERED ON- 26/07/2023

## INDIAN STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD

## #894. SHRI LAVU SHRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU

SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL

## SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) the total number of students from India pursuing graduate and postgraduate studies in foreign countries during the last three years, countrywise;

(b)   whether   the   Government   has   received   complaints   during   the   last three years concerning the Indian student diaspora from Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to resolve these problems;

(c)   whether  the   Government has any scheme/project/initiative for the welfare of students studying abroad and to assist them with their wellbeing in these foreign countries;

- (d) if so, the details of the funds allocated and utilized during the last three   years   for   such   scheme/project/initiative   and   total   number   of beneficiaries benefited therefrom;
- (e)   whether   the   Government   has   considered   setting   up   any authority/helpline to assist Indian students studying abroad, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)   whether   the   Government   has   taken   cognisance   of   the   increasing number of students going abroad for undergraduate studies, if so, the details thereof and response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a)  As per available information, the total number of  Indian students pursuing higher education in universities and other tertiary institutions abroad are as follows:

|   Year |   No. of students (in millions) |
|--------|---------------------------------|
|   2022 |                            0.75 |
|   2023 |                            0.93 |
|   2024 |                            1.33 |

Country- wise details of Indian students studying abroad as of January 2024 is placed at Annexure-'A'.

(b to f) As per available information, country-wise details of complaints received   from   Indian   students   studing   abroad   is   appended   at Annexure-'B'.   Providing safety and security to Indian students abroad is one   of   the   top   most   priorities   of   the   Government   of   India.   Indian Missions/Posts abroad maintain regular contacts with Indian students enrolled in Universities abroad. This commences as soon as the new Indian students, enrolled in foreign Universities, are invited to participate in Welcome Ceremony organised by Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts organise Orientation Programmes and brief them on challenges and threats, if any, that they may confront during their stay in the foreign lands and how to take counter active measures. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts and other senior Embassy officials also visit foreign Universities and Educational Institutions in their respective countries of accreditation   to   regularly   interact   with   Indian   students   and   Indian Students' Associations.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad also encourage Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on the MADAD Portal so that their grievances and outstanding issues can be addressed in a time bound manner.  Indian Missions/Posts abroad encourage Indian students to remain connected on a regular basis and make all possible efforts to respond to the outstanding issues faced by them  on a priority

basis. The grievances of the students are responded to almost on a real time basis through telephone calls, walk-ins, emails, social media, 24x7 emergency helplines, open houses and the MADAD Portal.  Any complaint received   from   the   Indian   students   abroad   are   taken   up   with   the concerned University/Institution and the host Government, as the case may be for requisite action.

Cases of  untoward incidents are immediately taken up by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished. During emergencies or crisis situations, Indian Missions/Posts abroad pro-actively help distressed/stranded Indian students overseas by providing them food, shelter, medicines and ensure their return/evacuation to India as soon as possible. Most recently, stranded Indian   students   were   evacuated   to   India   through   the   Vande   Bharat Mission, Operation Ganga and Operation Ajay from countries around the world.

While   some   Indian   nationals   have   migrated   to   foreign   countries   for various purposes, the Government recognizes the reality that the entire world now constitutes a workplace. Government of India has, therefore, initiated   transformational   change   in   its   engagement   with   the   Indian diaspora. A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is viewed as

an asset for India. The Government's efforts are also aimed at harnessing the potential of the Indian diaspora, for India's growth and development.

Annexure-A Number of Indian students pursuing higher education in foreign countries as on 01.01.2024

| S. No.    | Countries                  |   Number of students studying in Universities/ Tertiary Institutions |
|-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Canada                     |                                                               427000 |
| 2.        | United States of America   |                                                               337630 |
| 3.        | United Kingdom             |                                                               185000 |
| 4.        | Australia                  |                                                               122202 |
| 5.        | Germany                    |                                                                42997 |
| 6.        | UAE                        |                                                                25000 |
| 7.        | Russia                     |                                                                24940 |
| 8.        | Kyrgyzstan                 |                                                                16500 |
| 9.        | Georgia                    |                                                                16093 |
| 10.       | Kazakhstan                 |                                                                 9785 |
| 11.       | Philippines                |                                                                 9665 |
| 12.       | France                     |                                                                 9500 |
| 13. China | (Including Hong Kong)      |                                                                 8580 |
| 14.       | Bangladesh                 |                                                                 8534 |
| 15.       | New Zealand                |                                                                 7300 |
| 16.       | Ireland                    |                                                                 7000 |
| 17.       | Italy                      |                                                                 6017 |
| 18.       | Cyprus                     |                                                                 4352 |
| 19.       | Uzbekistan                 |                                                                 4100 |
| 20.       | Malaysia                   |                                                                 4029 |
| 21.       | Poland                     |                                                                 4000 |
| 22.       | Netherlands                |                                                                 3504 |
| 23.       | Mauritius                  |                                                                 3216 |
| 24.       | China (Republic of Taiwan) |                                                                 3029 |
| 25.       | Armenia                    |                                                                 3000 |
| 26.       | Latvia                     |                                                                 2750 |
| 27.       | Finland                    |                                                                 2645 |
| 28.       | Ukraine                    |                                                                 2510 |

| 29.                                 | Nepal             |   2134 |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------|--------|
| 30.                                 | Singapore         |   2000 |
| 31.                                 | Switzerland       |   1991 |
| 32.                                 | Republic of Korea |   1985 |
| 33.                                 | Czech Republic    |   1815 |
| 34.                                 | Japan             |   1532 |
| 35.                                 | Sweden            |   1500 |
| 36.                                 | Tajikistan        |   1350 |
| 37.                                 | Spain             |   1259 |
| 38.                                 | Portugal          |   1139 |
| 39.                                 | Hungary           |   1098 |
| 40.                                 | Egypt             |   1049 |
| 41.                                 | Lithuania         |   1029 |
| 42.                                 | Iran              |   1020 |
| 43.                                 | Belgium           |    970 |
| 44.                                 | Israel            |    900 |
| 45.                                 | Saudi Arabia      |    891 |
| 46.                                 | Moldova           |    847 |
| 47.                                 | Belarus           |    839 |
| 48.                                 | Malta             |    600 |
| 49.                                 | Oman              |    600 |
| 50.                                 | Kenya             |    550 |
| 51.                                 | Denmark           |    509 |
| 52.                                 | Serbia            |    500 |
| 53.                                 | Norway            |    484 |
| 54.                                 | Bulgaria          |    466 |
| 55. Austria & Montenegro & Holy See |                   |    450 |
| 56.                                 | Azerbaijan        |    450 |
| 57.                                 | Thailand          |    413 |
| 58.                                 | Bahrain           |    406 |
| 59.                                 | Guyana            |    400 |
| 60. South                           | Africa            |    387 |
| 61.                                 | Turkey            |    327 |

| 62.          | Suriname           |   250 |
|--------------|--------------------|-------|
| 63.          | Antigua & Barbuda  |   240 |
| 64.          | Qatar              |   209 |
| 65.          | Jamaica            |   200 |
| 66.          | Slovakia           |   180 |
| 67.          | Slovenia           |   157 |
| 68.          | Romania            |   126 |
| 69.          | Luxembourg         |   125 |
| 70.          | Estonia            |   119 |
| 71.          | Vietnam            |    93 |
| 72.          | Sri Lanka          |    65 |
| 73.          | Albania            |    63 |
| 74.          | Zambia             |    50 |
| 75.          | Belize             |    43 |
| 76.          | Lebanon            |    39 |
| 77.          | St. Kits and Nevis |    35 |
| 78.          | Botswana           |    34 |
| 79.          | Chile              |    32 |
| 80.          | Tanzania           |    28 |
| 81.          | Iceland            |    23 |
| 82. Bosnia & | Herzegovina        |    22 |
| 83.          | Brunei             |    20 |
| 84.          | Croatia            |    20 |
| 85.          | Malawi             |    14 |
| 86.          | Pakistan           |    14 |
| 87.          | Seychelles         |    14 |
| 88.          | Brazil             |     8 |
| 89.          | Costa Rica         |     8 |
| 90.          | Greece             |     8 |
| 91.          | Indonesia          |     6 |
| 92.          | Mongolia           |     4 |
| 93.          | Argentina          |     3 |
| 94.          | Liechtenstein      |     2 |

| 95.           | Macedonia     | 2        |
|---------------|---------------|----------|
| Bhutan        | 1             | 96.      |
| Columbia      | 1             | 97.      |
| Cuba          | 1             | 98.      |
| Guatemala     | 1             | 99.      |
| Namibia       | 1             | 100.     |
| 101. Trinidad | 1             | & Tobago |
| Total 1335030 | Total 1335030 |          |

## Annexure-B

| S.No.          |   Country | Number of students Grievances received   |
|----------------|-----------|------------------------------------------|
| 1 Australia    |        33 |                                          |
| Bangladesh     |        75 | 2                                        |
| Belgium        |        10 | 3                                        |
| Bulgaria       |         5 | 4                                        |
| Canada         |        72 | 5                                        |
| Croatia        |         1 | 6                                        |
| Czech Republic |         5 | 7                                        |
| France         |       780 | 8                                        |
| Germany        |       299 | 9                                        |
| Guyana         |         1 | 10                                       |
| Iran           |         2 | 11                                       |
| Ireland        |         7 | 12                                       |
| Italy          |        27 | 13                                       |
| Japan          |         1 | 14                                       |
| Kazakhstan     |       200 | 15                                       |
| Kyrgyzstan     |        70 | 16                                       |
| Mauritius      |        25 | 17                                       |
| Mexico         |         2 | 18                                       |
| New Zealand    |         2 | 19                                       |
| Russia         |       233 | 20                                       |
| Singapore      |        85 | 21                                       |
| Slovenia       |        12 | 22                                       |
| Spain          |       275 | 23                                       |
| Suriname       |         2 | 24                                       |
| Switzerland    |         1 | 25                                       |
| Taiwan         |         4 | 26                                       |
| Turkiyie       |        01 | 27                                       |

| 28   | U.K        |   316 |
|------|------------|-------|
| 29   | USA        |   155 |
| 30   | Uzbekistan |    85 |
|      | Total      |  2786 |

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