The number of Indians going abroad to study has fallen for the second consecutive year, after reaching its immediate post-Covid resurgence nearly three years ago.
The drop -- after years of a surge in numbers -- comes against the backdrop of tightening immigration regulations.The number of Indians going abroad to study has fallen for the second consecutive year, after reaching its immediate post-Covid resurgence nearly three years ago. According to data provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), 6,19,264 Indians disclosed study or education as their purpose of visit while going abroad in 2025. This was down from 7,60,060 in 2024 and 8,94,758 in 2023. The five-year data shows a sharp post-pandemic rise followed by a steady decline. In 2021, 4,45,580 Indians travelled abroad with study or education as their declared purpose. The number jumped to 7,52,100 in 2022 and then rose further to 8,94,758 in 2023. Since then, the numbers have fallen to 7,60,060 in 2024 and 6,19,264 in 2025.Overall, more than 34.7 lakh Indians disclosed study or education as their purpose of travel between 2021 and 2025. The 2023 figure was the highest in this period. From a post-Covid surge to two years of decline The year-on-year movement makes the shift particularly clear. The number of Indians travelling abroad for study increased by nearly 69% in 2022. It grew by another 19% in 2023. The direction changed in 2024. The number fell by about 15% from the previous year. The decline became steeper in 2025, when student departures fell by about 18.5%. The sharp rise in 2022 came after the first years of the Covid-19 pandemic, when international travel and overseas education had been disrupted. The 2023 figure then became the peak of the five years. The decline since then is therefore important, but it needs to be read against that high base. The number of students travelling abroad in 2025 was about 2.76 lakh lower than in 2023. At the same time, it was still about 1.74 lakh higher than in 2021. Last year was lower, but not a return to pre-surge levels The five-year sequence can be divided broadly into two phases.Story continues below this ad The first was the recovery and expansion phase. Student mobility increased from 4.46 lakh in 2021 to 7.52 lakh in 2022 and then crossed 8.9 lakh in 2023. The second phase began in 2024. The number dropped below eight lakh and then fell further to 6.19 lakh in 2025. The government has also not linked the movement to any single reason. The Ministry of Education said the decision to study abroad depends on factors including affordability, access to finance, exposure to foreign societies and aptitude for a particular branch of study. Leaving India each year is not the same as the number already abroad There is another number that helps put the annual figures in perspective. The number of Indians who travel abroad for study in a particular year should not be confused with the total number of Indian students already studying outside the country. An earlier government dataset on Indian students abroad recorded 18,82,318 Indian students across countries. Of these, 12,54,013 were studying in universities or tertiary institutions, while 6,28,305 were studying in schools. The annexure is dated January 2025.Story continues below this ad Canada, US and UK remain the biggest university destinations Among students studying in universities or tertiary institutions, Canada had the largest number in the government dataset, with 4,27,085 Indian students. The United States followed with 2,55,247, while the United Kingdom had 1,73,190. Together, these three countries accounted for more than 8.55 lakh Indian students in universities or tertiary institutions in the dataset. The concentration in these destinations also shows why changes in international education policies, costs and access in a few major destinations can have a significant bearing on Indian student mobility. Not just students, even Indian institutions went abroad While Indian students continue to travel abroad in large numbers, Indian higher education institutions are also beginning to move in the opposite direction by establishing
The committee has also directed schools and transport operators to prepare a Common Standard Agreement Contract covering school bus services with either the school or parents. The list of students being transported will have to be attached to the agreement. School buses and vans transporting students in Pune district will have to comply with additional safety requirements, including functional CCTV cameras, vehicle location tracking and fire-safety systems, failing which their licences could be suspended or cancelled. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Pune District School Bus Safety Committee held on Wednesday at the Pune Police Commissioner’s office. The meeting was chaired by Sanjay Darade, Joint Commissioner of Police, Pune city. The committee directed schools and school transport operators to strictly follow the school bus safety rules and ensure that vehicles used to ferry students meet the prescribed safety standards.One of the key directions is that CCTV cameras will be mandatory in every vehicle used for school student transport. Vehicles being submitted for renewal of their fitness certificates will have to have an operational CCTV system. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) will also take action against vehicles found operating without the required CCTV system during routine inspections. The state government had amended the school bus safety rules on July 16, 2026, adding several safety requirements for vehicles carrying school students. These include a Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) compliant with AIS-140 standards and its integration with a command and control centre. School buses will also have to have a Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS) or fireballs weighing at least 1 kg each near the engine and emergency exit. The amended requirements also allow the use of a certified mobile or web-based application providing live vehicle tracking, digital attendance, automated alerts and role-based access to parents, school authorities and enforcement agencies. A feed of CCTV footage is to be made available to parents through the mobile application and to the RTO, police or education department whenever required. The footage must be backed up for at least 30 days. Attendance, supervision & medical checks School bus contractors have been directed to maintain student attendance records, including details of when children board and leave the vehicle. For students up to Class 5, every trip will have to have additional supervision through a woman attendant or other staff member. Special arrangements must also be made to help students with disabilities board and alight from buses. Depending on the requirement, schools will have to arrange for a teacher, counsellor or parent to accompany such students.Story continues below this ad Schools and school bus owners have been given three months to comply with the safety guidelines. Vehicles that fail to meet the requirements could face suspension or cancellation of their licences. The committee has also directed schools and transport operators to prepare a Common Standard Agreement Contract covering school bus services with either the school or parents. The list of students being transported will have to be attached to the agreement. School bus fares to be fixed by RTA School bus and van fares will soon be fixed by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the committee said. Once the RTA determines the minimum fare, operators will not be permitted to charge more than 10 per cent above or below the prescribed minimum fare. The School Transport Committee at each school has also been asked to address complaints from parents relating to school bus services, safety and fares and submit a report to the District School Bus Safety Committee every three months. Driver, attendant verification made mandatoryStory continues below this ad Schools and transport operators have been directed to appoint drivers, women attendants and other scho
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