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Russia Under Scrutiny: MEA Data Shows High Complaint Rate Among Indian Students
MEA data for 2025 reveals Russia accounts for a disproportionately high number of complaints from Indian students. While affordable and popular, the figures raise concerns about safety, housing, and support systems.
For decades, Russia has remained a preferred destination for Indian students pursuing MBBS and technical degrees, largely due to affordable tuition, accessible admissions, and an established Indian student community. However, recent data released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sparked renewed debate about student safety and support systems in the country.
As of January 1, 2025, 27,222 Indian students were enrolled in Russian institutions. In the same period, 201 complaints were recorded from Indian students in Russia. When placed in a global context — with approximately 1.88 million Indian students studying abroad — Russia’s complaint concentration appears notably high. If around 350 total complaints were recorded worldwide, Russia alone accounted for nearly 57 percent, translating to roughly 73.9 complaints per 10,000 students.
The grievances reported include accommodation disputes, exploitative or unpaid work arrangements, misleading promises by agents, harassment, and instances of discrimination. Many issues stem from informal housing setups, undocumented part-time jobs, and unclear fee agreements. Experts suggest that the problem is not necessarily widespread violence but gaps in structured student support, verified housing systems, and local preparedness.
Despite these concerns, Russia continues to attract Indian students due to lower tuition costs and greater seat availability, especially in medical education. However, affordability often leads students to cut living expenses or rely heavily on agents, sometimes increasing vulnerability.
The takeaway is not panic but preparation. Students planning to study in Russia should verify university recognition, insist on written contracts for tuition and housing, avoid unverified agents, register with the Indian embassy upon arrival, and maintain proper insurance coverage.
The MEA data does not label Russia unsafe, but it highlights a higher complaint rate compared to other destinations. The message is clear: Russia remains an option — but only with heightened vigilance, verified support systems, and careful planning.
