15% drop in Indians studying abroad: Canada down 41%, Russia sees 34% rise
New Delhi: The number of Indian students going abroad for higher education dropped by nearly 15 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to government data presented in Parliament.
In 2024, 7,59,064 Indian students pursued education abroad, down from 8,92,989 in 2023, and 7,50,365 in 2022, said Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar while responding to a question by Lok Sabha member and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E. T. Mohammed Basheer.
Canada saw the largest drop, with the number of Indian students falling by 41 percent. The count dropped from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024. Canada’s decision to tighten student visa regulations last year has had a massive impact on Indian students, leading to increased visa rejection rates, stricter application scrutiny, and the potential cancellation of study permits.
Other popular study destinations also saw a decrease in Indian student numbers. The United States (US) saw a nearly 13 percent drop, from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 2,04,058 in 2024. The UK saw a nearly 28 percent fall, from 1,36,921 to 98,890 while Australia experienced a 12 percent decrease, from 78,093 to 68,572 students.
On the other hand, Russia experienced a 34 percent increase in Indian students, with more students choosing it as a destination for their studies. France, Germany, and New Zealand also saw an uptick in Indian student numbers.
Meanwhile, Basheer also asked the government if it was aware of agencies misleading Indian students with false promises of education and part-time jobs abroad, and inquired about welfare schemes and support for students overseas.
In its response, the Ministry of Education stated that studies abroad are a matter of individual will and choice, noting that the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been set up by Government of India in all Indian Missions and Posts abroad to meet the contingency expenditure incurred by Indian citizens including Indian students studying abroad.
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Man killed in flat ceiling plaster crash, wife and son hurt
Thane (PTI): A 45-year-old man was killed, and his wife and son were injured when a portion of plaster from the ceiling collapsed in their flat in a seven-storey building in Thane on Saturday, officials said.
Chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell, Yasin Tadvi, said the 16-year-old building is not listed in the "dangerous" category.
"The incident occurred in Karumdev Society at about 3 am. The plaster of the hall in a flat on the terrace floor suddenly fell while the occupants were asleep", he said.
Of the four people who were inside the room, two suffered minor injuries and were discharged after primary treatment, Tadvi stated.
The injured persons were identified as Arpita More (42), who suffered minor head injuries, and her son Arush More (16), who sustained injuries to both legs.
Manoj More (45), who sustained chest injuries, died during treatment at a private hospital.
