RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-556
ANSWERED ON- 04/12/2025
STUDENT SAFETY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
556. DR. ASHOK KUMAR MITTAL
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the manner in which Government is negotiating new bilateral frameworks with host countries to ensure student safety and educational continuity abroad;
(b) the mechanisms being pursued to mandate student-insurance, welfare support and crisis evacuation provisions;
(c) the reasons as to why the Ministry has not publicly disclosed any systematic tracking of racial or political discrimination faced by Indian students abroad;
(d) the manner in which the host Governments would share data on incidents affecting Indian students and ensure accountability; and
(e) the manner in which Government would monitor and report effectiveness of such frameworks, including statistics on discrimination and evacuation outcomes?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The Government of India has entered into institutional bilateral cooperation with partner countries in the form of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) that lay down the framework for facilitating legal mobility of Indian students and researchers to foreign countries thus ensuring their safety, security and welfare. The list of countries with which Government of India has concluded MMPAs are at Annexure I.
(b) The bilateral Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements with partner countries seek to streamline visa procedures for students, enhance student mobility, promote opportunities for higher education as well as facilitate post study pathways through various mechanisms, such as, by securing permission from foreign Governments for fixed periods of extended stay of Indian students beyond the completion of their academic programmes to provide them the opportunity to explore long term employment and internship avenues, issue of temporary work permits during this period etc. Government of India has also established institutional mechanisms like Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and Sub-Groups within the framework of the MMPAs for holding regular meetings to discuss matters relating to the mobility issues concerning such Indian students abroad. All such measures under the MMPAs seek to promote the interest, well-being and safety of Indian students pursuing academics in foreign lands.
The Government of India accords high priority on safeguarding the interests and welfare of Indian students abroad and pursues this objective through other mechanisms as well. 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.
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 untoward incidents/experiences faced by Indian students abroad are promptly taken up with the concerned educational institutions and/or with the 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, legal assistance, counselling and transportation 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.
(c-d) The Government of India raises specific complaints of Indian students with the concerned authorities of the educational institutions and/or with the Government authorities of the host country with the view to resolve the same. Such complaints are usually distinct and need to be addressed on a case by case basis.
(e) The effectiveness of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) are monitored and periodically reviewed by the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and Sub-Groups that have been established under such bilateral frameworks. Measures are constantly taken to further bolster the efficacy and implementation of the provisions under the framework of the MMPAs.