RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-557
ANSWERED ON- 04/12/2025
ISSUES FACED BY INDIAN STUDENTS ABROAD
557. DR. V. SIVADASAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the country-wise number of Indian students studying abroad, as per the latest available data;
(b) the country-wise number of Indian students deported or denied entry by foreign immigration authorities during the last five years;
(c) the major reasons cited for such deportations, including cases linked to fraudulent or unaccredited foreign educational programmes; and
(d) the steps taken by the Ministry, with dates of advisories or warnings issued, to safeguard Indian students from misleading foreign educational courses?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The country-wise number of Indian students studying abroad is attached at Annexure I.
(b) The country-wise number of Indian students deported or denied entry by foreign immigration authorities during the last five years is attached at Annexure II.
(c) The major reasons cited for deportations primarily relate to violations of visa norms and non-compliance with the regulations of host countries by Indian students. Common grounds for deportation include breach of student visa conditions, such as undertaking employment that is not permitted under student visa rules, illegal business activities, or violations of internal regulations of the host country, such as acts inciting ethnic hatred, conflict, separatism, or disseminating prohibited information.
Students have also faced deportation by foreign Governments for failing to maintain the requisite financial Bank balance in countries where they had been studying, for not paying university fees or for being unable to demonstrate adequate financial capacity to support their stay and studies, for having insufficient attendance in classes or for complete withdrawal from the registered academic programmes or universities, etc. In several cases, entry of Indian students had been denied by foreign immigration authorities on account of their carrying incomplete or inappropriate admission documents of their Universities, failing to complete the administrative procedures required for enrolment in the Universities, or for being unable to answer basic questions about their chosen field of study in foreign academic institutions.
(d) The Government of India accords high priority on safeguarding the interests and welfare of Indian students abroad, including protecting them from misleading foreign educational courses.
Indian Missions maintain regular contact with Indian students enrolled in foreign universities. Embassy officials also visit universities and educational institutions in their jurisdictions to interact with Indian students and student associations and to assess any issue concerning the credibility or quality of courses being pursued. Several Indian Missions also issue formal advisories for Indian Students under their jurisdiction aimed towards protecting their interests, welfare and safety in foreign lands. The list of Advisories issued by Indian Missions/Posts abroad from time to time for safeguarding interests of Indian students abroad, and other mechanisms adopted by them to warn students from enrolling into misleading foreign educational courses is attached at Annexure – III.
With the view to ensure effective communication and timely support, Indian students are encouraged to register with the local Indian Mission/Post and on the MADAD Portal of this Ministry. This enables Missions/Posts to address grievances on a near real-time basis. Indian Missions/Posts also engage in addressing concerns of Indian students abroad through telephone calls, emails, walk-ins, social media, 24×7 emergency helplines, and Open Houses. Complaints related to misleading academic programmes or adverse experiences are promptly taken up with the concerned educational institutions and, when required, with authorities of the host country for necessary action.
Indian Missions also remain vigilant, particularly in countries affected by political instability, economic crises, and where the risk of students being misled or exploited may be higher. Any incident affecting Indian students are immediately raised with host governments to ensure their safety and appropriate redressal. Consular assistance, including emergency medical support, temporary accommodation, and other essential services, is extended whenever needed. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) further supports Indian nationals, including students, in distress and offers assistance for incurring emergency expenses and repatriation of mortal remains.
During emergencies, the Government of India has undertaken large-scale evacuation operations to protect and bring home Indian nationals, including students. Notable recent evacuation operations include Operation Devi Shakti (Afghanistan), Operation Ganga (Ukraine), Operation Kaveri (Sudan), Operation Ajay (Israel) and Operation Sindhu (Israel and Iran). These efforts demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian students studying abroad and towards protecting them from miscreants and unsafe security situations.