Indian Students' Vulnerability Abroad: Recent Government Data Reveals Alarming Figures

The Indian government reported to Rajya Sabha that seven Indian students died due to violence or attacks in three foreign countries this year. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh revealed that 124 students died from accidents or medical causes abroad. Data indicates a rising trend in such fatalities over the past five years.

The Indian government reported to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that seven students from India succumbed to violence or attacks in three foreign countries this year.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh shared this data in response to questions about the number of Indian students killed abroad in the past five years.

According to the data, 124 Indian students died this year in various foreign countries due to accidents or medical causes. It was also revealed that four of the students died in Canada, two in the US, and one in Australia.

Singh detailed that five students were killed in two countries—four in the US and one in Canada—in 2023. Similarly, in 2022, two students were killed: one in Canada and one in the UK, while in 2021, one student died in China.

The report also disclosed that 37 students died in the US and 31 in Canada from accidents or medical causes, with a total of 124 deaths reported this year. For 2023, the corresponding figure was 170.

The minister noted that data from Indian missions and posts abroad estimate that 1.33 million Indian students were enrolled in foreign universities as of January 1.

(With inputs from agencies.)