A noticeable drop in the number of Indian students choosing to pursue higher education abroad has sparked a deeper debate about the preparedness of India’s academic ecosystem, says Sushma Bharath, an independent education consultant.
According to recent data, the number of Indian students going overseas for higher studies has fallen from 908,000 in 2023 to 626,000 in 2025. In particular, US student visas saw a steep 62 per cent decline between June and July 2025. While this trend may initially seem positive for India, Bharath cautions that the underlying causes require closer examination. Citing insights from The Red Pen, she noted that alongside visa restrictions and global uncertainties, the growing influence of AI on service-driven sectors like IT is shaping family decisions. “Families are increasingly rethinking long-term financial stability and that is directly impacting education choices,” she explained.
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Bharath also raised an important question about whether India’s growing appeal as a study destination reflects genuine progress or is simply a fall back due to global disruptions. “If external challenges are what drive students to stay back, we need to reflect on what that indicates about our system,” she said.
Discussing the evolution of India’s higher education sector, she highlighted the emergence of liberal arts institutions, such as Ashoka University, OP Jindal Global University, Azim Premji University, Krea University and Plaksha University. She also pointed to the expansion of established institutions like Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Birla Institute of Technology and Science into multi-campus models.
However, Bharath stressed that rising competition—especially with international universities like University of Bristol, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of New South Wales, and University of Liverpool establishing campuses in India under the National Education Policy—will push domestic institutions to significantly elevate their standards. She said universities must now prioritise strong faculty, multidisciplinary programmes, and career outcomes aligned with the future of work.
She further emphasised the need for a shift in India’s broader economic mindset—from a service-oriented model to one that actively fosters entrepreneurship and job creation. “India must transition from being a country of job-seekers to one of job-creators. With the rise of the startup ecosystem, young people today are increasingly inspired by founders and innovators, and education must evolve accordingly,” she noted.
Calling for shared responsibility, Bharath underlined that the increasing number of students staying in India places pressure on the entire ecosystem to deliver meaningful value. “Universities, employers, counsellors, and all stakeholders must ensure that students see tangible outcomes here. It cannot be reduced to branding or marketing alone,” she said.
“The students are here. The real question is whether we are ready for them,” she concluded.
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