Indian Students Studying Abroad Quadruple in 14 Years: 894,783 Students in 2023, Says Education Minister

This fourfold increase positions India as the world's second-largest source of international students, trailing only China.

The number of Indian students pursuing higher education abroad has surged dramatically over the past 14 years, reaching 894,783 in 2023, according to a recent reply by the Minister of Education in the Lok Sabha.

This fourfold increase positions India as the world's second-largest source of international students, trailing only China. The data underscores the growing trend of Indian students seeking education opportunities overseas and highlights the expanding global demand for Indian talent.

Table: Number of Indian Students Studying Abroad (2016-2024)

Year	Number of Students
2016	369,876
2017	455,072
2018	518,787
2019	587,313
2020	260,363
2021	445,582
2022	752,111
2023	894,783
2024*	360,588

*Data as of July 2024

Government’s Response and Initiatives:

In response to a question posed by Prof. Sougata Ray and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan provided a comprehensive overview of the situation and outlined the government's approach to addressing the trend. The minister acknowledged the challenges posed by student migration, including potential brain drain and its benefits to foreign economies, and highlighted the government's efforts to enhance the quality and accessibility of education within India.

Sharing details of various inititives undertaken by the government, Pradhan stated the number of universities in the country has increased to 1168, including increase in number of IITs, Central Universities. He also informed that two Australian universities have also established their campuses in India. 

Key Government Initiatives:

1. Expansion of Educational Institutions:
• The number of universities in India has risen significantly from 760 in 2014-15 to 1,168 in 2021-22.
• The number of colleges has increased from 38,498 in 2014-15 to 45,473 in 2021-22.
2. Increased Enrolment:
• Total enrolment in higher education has grown to approximately 4.33 crore in 2021-22, up from 3.42 crore in 2014-15. Notably, female enrolment has also risen, reaching 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 1.57 crore in 2014-15.
3. Infrastructure Development:
• Significant growth in Central universities, IITs, IIMs, and IIITs, contributing to a more robust higher education landscape.
4. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:
• The NEP 2020 emphasizes the internationalization of education, aiming to position India as a global education hub. It includes reforms such as the National Credit Framework (NCF) and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) to provide flexibility and multidisciplinary options.
5. Technological Integration:
• Initiatives like the SWAYAM platform and SAMARTH ERP system have been implemented to enhance online learning and administrative efficiency. SWAYAM has seen significant adoption, with 305 higher education institutions using the platform and a cumulative enrolment of over 4.30 crore.
6. Global Academic Collaboration:
• Enabling regulations have been established to promote collaboration between Indian and foreign universities through joint, dual, or twinning degree programs. Notable collaborations include Australian universities setting up campuses in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

Global Rankings and Impact

The Education Minister informed that the government's efforts have led to noticeable improvements in global university rankings. India now has 11 institutions in the QS World University Rankings top 500 for 2025, up from 7 in 2015. Additionally, the total number of Indian HEIs in QS rankings has grown to 46 in 2024 from 9 in 2014. India's research output has surged by 54%, significantly exceeding the global average, and the country has improved its ranking in the Global Innovation Index from 76th in 2014 to 40th in 2024.

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