The number of Indian students choosing to study in Canada has seen a significant increase over the past three years, with the highest enrollment recorded in 2023 at 4.27 lakh, according to data presented by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The data shared in the Upper House revealed that in 2023, Canada had the largest number of Indian students enrolled in its educational institutions, totaling 4,27,085. Following Canada, the United States of America (USA) hosted 3,51,106 Indian students. Other countries with substantial Indian student populations included the UAE (2,47,325) and Australia (1,24,829).
Minister of State (MoS) in the MEA, Kirti Vardhan Singh, provided this information in a written reply to a question from Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury regarding the number of Indian students studying in Canada. Singh mentioned that, according to information from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, the intake of Indian students in Canadian universities has risen steadily over the past three years.
Singh was also asked if the number of students going to Canada had decreased due to strained relations between India and Canada, a situation exacerbated by the case involving the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite these tensions, as well as challenges faced by Indian students in Canada, such as housing shortages, food security, and difficulties in obtaining work permits due to overcrowding, the number of Indian students going to Canada has continued to grow.
The MEA also shared data in Parliament this February, revealing that out of the 403 Indian students who have died abroad since 2018, 91 deaths occurred in Canada, the highest among all countries. News18 reported on October 12, 2023, that on average, the mortal remains of five to eight Indian students are sent back home from Canada each month.
According to MEA data, a total of 13,18,955 Indian students went abroad to study in 68 different countries in 2023, marking the highest number in the past three years. This figure was 11,58,702 in 2021 and 9,07,404 in 2022. Singh’s reply also noted that while student intake from India has increased in some countries, it has declined in others.
The Government of India continues to encourage only legal forms of migration and mobility for Indian students seeking education abroad.
