Recent data from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs indicates that more than 10 lakh Indian students are studying abroad, with the highest number in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, Indian students studying abroad have faced several issues in recent years.

• One of the biggest hurdles has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted travel plans, led to the closure of universities and impacted job prospects for international students.
• Indian students have also faced several incidents of racism and discrimination abroad, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, where they have been subjected to xenophobia due to their nationality.
• Another issue is the high cost of education, especially in countries such as the US, which can make it difficult for middle-class families in India to afford international education.
• Additionally, there have been cases of fraud and exploitation of Indian students by fraudulent education agencies who mislead them about admission procedures and visas.

Initiatives such as the Study in India programme aim to encourage Indian students to pursue higher education within the country, but the options of pursuing studies abroad remain an attractive proposition despite the issues.