The number of Indian students studying abroad increased by over 50% between 2019 and 2023. While enrolments in traditional ‘Big Four’ countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) have fallen last year, Indian students are now turning to emerging destinations like Germany, Russia, Bangladesh, and New Zealand - reshaping the map of outbound mobility. These shifts reflect not only evolving immigration policies, but broader socio-economic transformations and aspirations of India’s expanding middle class.
Stakeholders are divided: some warn of ‘brain drain’ and forex loss, while others see an opportunity for cultivating a dynamic Indian diaspora and global influence. Meanwhile, the domestic ecosystem faces urgent questions about quality, international competition, and whether India’s universities can adapt to attract and retain top talent.
This event convenes leading policymakers, education leaders, and international experts to critically examine the data, drivers, and policy trade-offs shaping India’s education outflow. The consultation will tackle key questions facing India’s higher education system: enhancing quality, global competitiveness, and role of internationalisation at home, and framing outbound student mobility not as a loss, but as an engine for ‘brain circulation’, diaspora engagement, and innovation-led growth. By situating these discussions within national priorities - quality enhancement, talent retention, and strategic international collaboration - the dialogue aims to co-create an actionable roadmap that balances India’s global ambitions and long-term national interest.
