Germany

The number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies has fallen by 15%, from 892,989 in 2023 to 759,064 in 2024. This marks only the second decline since 2019, apart from the pandemic-hit 2020. Canada Sees Major Drop Amid Diplomatic Tensions One of the most significant declines has been in Indian students opting for Canada, coinciding with rising diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Delhi. The situation worsened after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September 2023. In response, India withdrew security protections for Canadian diplomats, prompting Canada to recall 41 diplomats. This diplomatic strain was followed by stricter student visa rules from Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), granting authorities greater power to revoke study and work permits under specific conditions. UK Visa Rules Discourage Indian Students The UK government’s new immigration policies, effective January 2024, prohibit international students (except those in postgraduate research or government-funded programs) from bringing family members. This has resulted in a 27% drop in Indian student enrollments in the UK. Rise of Alternative Study Destinations As traditional destinations impose stricter policies, new countries are emerging as preferred choices for Indian students: Germany saw an increase of 34,702 Indian students in 2024. Uzbekistan and Bangladesh recorded 9,915 and 8,864 more students, respectively. Russia experienced a 34% surge in Indian student enrollments, thanks to affordable education, relaxed visa policies, and expanding academic partnerships. With visa regulations, diplomatic relations, and economic factors influencing student migration, whether the numbers rebound in 2025 remains to be seen. Source: India Today