During the period from 2017 to 2022, more than 1.3 million Indian students pursued higher education abroad, as reported by the Ministry of Education in response to a question in Rajya Sabha last month.
Subhas Sarkar, the Minister of State for Education, provided this information, which was sourced from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
More Than 1.3 Million Indian Students Choose Higher Education Abroad
According to Mr. Sarkar, the MEA data indicates that approximately 1.3 million Indian students were studying abroad in various courses in the year 2022.
However, the Ministry of Education does not maintain records concerning the expenses incurred by Indian students while pursuing higher education in foreign nations.
The United States remains the most favored destination for Indian students, with 465,791 students choosing to study there. Canada follows with 183,310 students, while the UAE hosts 164,000, Australia 100,009, the UK 55,465, Saudi Arabia 65,800, Qatar 46,000, Germany 34,864, Georgia 14,000, France 10,003, Bangladesh 9,308, Armenia 8,015, and China 6,436, among other countries.
Government’s Plans To Provide Quality Education Within The Country
Mr. Sarkar’s response came in reply to a question posed by DMK MP R Girirajan, who inquired about the number of Indian students pursuing higher education abroad and whether the government had plans to provide quality education within the country.
He mentioned, “As announced in last year’s budget proposal, world-class foreign universities and institutions have been allowed to operate in the GIFT City, Gujarat (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), offering courses in financial management, fintech, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, exempt from domestic regulations, except those imposed by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). This move aims to facilitate the availability of highly skilled human resources for financial services and technology.”
Mr. Sarkar also highlighted that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced the UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programs) Regulations, 2022. These regulations encourage collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions (FHEIs), expanding educational opportunities for Indian students.
