This cumulative decline represents a nearly 31% decrease, based on figures provided by the Bureau of Immigration.

9.08 Lakh to 6.26 Lakh: Education Ministry Reports India’s Study Abroad Numbers Hit 3-Year Low 

Official data from the Ministry of Education reveals a steady decline in Indian students travelling overseas for higher studies over the last three years. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar disclosed that outbound student numbers fell from 9.08 lakh in 2023 to 7.7 lakh in 2024, reaching 6.26 lakh in 2025. This cumulative decline represents a nearly 31% decrease, based on figures provided by the Bureau of Immigration.

Minister Majumdar attributed these trends to individual choice, noting that factors like affordability, loan accessibility, and specific academic aptitudes influence decisions to study abroad. He emphasised that the government views a prosperous diaspora as a national asset and is working to leverage their expertise.

To address domestic demand, the government is focusing on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to enhance local institutional quality through better infrastructure and digital initiatives. Furthermore, the "Study in India" push has resulted in 14 foreign institutions receiving approval to set up campuses domestically, with five already cleared for operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City. 

Source: The Tribune