Indian Students Studying Abroad See Major Decline

Outbound Education Trends Shift Under NEP Reforms

Government data presented in Parliament reveals a pronounced decline in the number of Indian students pursuing higher education overseas. Figures compiled by the Bureau of Immigration indicate a steady contraction in outbound student mobility between 2023 and 2025, signalling evolving educational and economic dynamics.

Declining Outbound Student Numbers

More than 9.08 lakh Indian students travelled abroad for higher studies in 2023. The number fell to 7.7 lakh in 2024 and further declined to 6.26 lakh in 2025. The cumulative reduction of approximately 31% over two years represents one of the most significant recent shifts in India’s international education patterns.

Drivers Behind the Trend

Authorities note that overseas education decisions remain shaped by affordability, financing options, career prospects, and course specialisation. Broader global factors — including rising tuition costs, currency volatility, and visa policy changes — may also influence student choices. Simultaneously, improvements in India’s higher education ecosystem have begun altering the cost-benefit calculus for families.

Policy Context: Domestic Higher Education Expansion

The National Education Policy 2020 has accelerated reforms aimed at enhancing academic quality and internationalisation. Regulatory changes now permit foreign universities to establish campuses in India, expanding domestic access to globally benchmarked programmes.

Notably, Gujarat’s GIFT City has emerged as a designated hub for international educational institutions. Multiple overseas universities have received approvals, reflecting India’s strategy to localise global education offerings.

Strategic Implications

The shift suggests gradual strengthening of India’s domestic higher education capacity, potentially reducing foreign exchange outflows while retaining talent within national academic and research systems.

Exam-Focused Points

• Outbound data sourced from Bureau of Immigration .

• Decline: 9.08 lakh (2023) → 6.26 lakh (2025) .

• NEP 2020 promotes internationalisation of HEIs .

• Foreign universities permitted in India.

• GIFT City: Emerging education hub.