**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4012, addressed on August 18, 2025, regarding Indian students studying abroad, the Ministry of Education stated that it does not maintain data on this demographic. However, data provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) indicates the following numbers of Indian citizens who declared their purpose of visit as "STUDY/EDUCATION" when traveling abroad in the last five years: 2020 (260,363), 2021 (445,582), 2022 (752,111), 2023 (894,783), and 2024 (760,073). The government has undertaken bilateral and multilateral measures to facilitate visa processing, academic recognition, and student mobility through agreements such as Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) and Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been established in all Indian Missions and Posts abroad to provide on-site welfare support, subject to means testing, and to cover contingency expenditures for Indian citizens, including students. Indian Missions/Posts encourage students to register with them and on the MADAD Portal to facilitate timely resolution of grievances and issues.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
Shri P C Mohan: Member of Parliament who raised the question about Indian students studying abroad.
DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Bureau of Immigration BoI: The Indian government agency that provided data on Indian students going abroad.
Mutual Recognition of Qualifications MRQs: Agreements between countries to facilitate academic recognition.
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements: Agreements between countries to facilitate student mobility.
Indian Community Welfare Fund ICWF: A fund set up by the Government of India to provide welfare to Indian citizens abroad.
MADAD Portal: A portal where Indian students abroad can register their grievances.
Karnataka: A state in India, mentioned in the context of ensuring access to schemes for students from all regions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4012
ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Indian Students Studying Abroad
4012. Shri P C Mohan:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Indian students who have gone abroad for higher education during
the last five years, year and country-wise;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any bilateral or multilateral measures to
facilitate easier VISA processing, academic recognition or student mobility agreements
with other countries;
(c) whether the Government has developed any support system to assist such students
during travel, documentation and emergencies;
(d) whether any scholarships, low-interest education loans or financial assistance
schemes are being provided by the Government to support students from economically
weaker sections for this purpose; and
(e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to ensure that students from all
regions, including States like Karnataka are made aware of and access to these
schemes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): 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 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Number of 260363 445582 752111 894783 760073
StudentsGovernment has undertaken various measures to facilitate VISA processing, academic
recognition and student mobility with other countries, through framework mechanisms like
agreements on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) and Migration and Mobility
Partnership Agreements.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been set up by Government of India in all
Indian Missions and Posts abroad to provide on-site welfare on a means-tested basis and
also to meet the contingency expenditure incurred by Indian Citizens including Indian
students studying abroad. Indian Missions /Posts abroad also encourage Indian students
travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on MADAD Portal so that
their grievances and issues can be addressed in a time bound manner.
*****