Indian students going abroad for higher education have decreased steadily over the past three years. According to data shared by the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha, 9.08 lakh students studied overseas in 2023, which fell to 7.7 lakh in 2024 and 6.26 lakh in 2025 — a decline of nearly 31%. The statistics, sourced from the Bureau of Immigration, reflect outbound student movement trends between 2023 and 2025.
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar emphasised that pursuing education abroad is a matter of personal choice. Factors influencing decisions include affordability, access to education loans, exposure to foreign societies, and academic aptitude. The government views India’s diaspora as an asset, capable of sharing knowledge and expertise globally.
The decline in outbound students coincides with reforms under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at enhancing the quality and global competitiveness of Indian institutions. Key measures include:
Upgrading infrastructure in universities
Strengthening accreditation systems
Promoting research and innovation
Expanding digital education initiatives
Additionally, the government has allowed foreign universities to establish campuses in India. Currently, 14 foreign institutions have received approval, with five set to operate in GIFT City, Gujarat. These steps aim to bring global-standard education within the country.
The fall in outbound students is influenced by multiple factors:
Rising tuition and living expenses abroad
Stricter visa norms in some countries
Expanded domestic education opportunities
While the government does not attribute the decline to a single cause, the data highlights a potential shift in preferences, as students increasingly consider high-quality education within India. The coming years will reveal whether this trend is a temporary correction or a long-term transformation in India’s higher education landscape.
