77 Violent Attacks On Indian Students Abroad In Last 5 Years, Germany & Canada Top The List: MEA – News18

Last Updated:March 20, 2025, 20:33 IST

The ministry of external affairs told the Rajya Sabha that out of the 77 violent attacks faced by Indian students in the last five years, 40 – the highest number – took place in 2024

A total of 77 Indian students have faced violent attacks while studying abroad in the last five years, of which 40 – the highest number – took place in 2024. The most incidents were reported from Germany and Canada, the ministry of external affairs told Parliament on Thursday.

According to data shared by Minister of State (MoS) Kirti Vardhan Singh, there have been 77 violent attacks involving Indian students abroad over the past five years – 40 (2024), 28 (2023), 4 (2022), 2 (2021) and 3 (2020).

Ministry data showed that these attacks have been reported from 10 popular student destinations, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, Russia, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Iran, and Philippines. In Germany, 11 such incidents were recorded in 2024 alone. Canada reported nine attacks in 2024, one each in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Last year, too, there were four attacks each in the UK and US; three each in Italy, Ireland and Philippines; two in Russia; and one in Australia, as per the data. In 2023, 12 attacks were recorded in Russia, seven in the UK, four in the US and two in Australia.

Singh, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, said 7,60,073 Indian students went abroad in 2024; 8,94,783 in 2023; and 7,52,111 in 2022. He said the number of foreign nationals entering India with student visa in 2024 were

56,538; 49,437 in 2023; and 39,202 in 2022.

“The Bureau of Immigration maintains the data of students who leave India for educational purposes as they exit India through the airports/land ports Bureau of Immigration, the number of students who disclosed their purpose of visit as study abroad,” he said.

He further said providing safety and security to Indian students abroad is a priority of the central government. Indian missions/posts abroad maintain regular contacts with the students enrolled in universities abroad, he added.

The minister said new Indian students, enrolled in foreign universities, are invited where possible to take part in welcome ceremonies organised by Indian missions/posts. He said they also hold orientation programmes and brief them on challenges as well as threats, if any, that they may face during their stay and how to take counteractive measures.

He also said heads of Indian missions/posts and other senior embassy officials visit foreign universities and educational institutions to interact with Indian students and their associations. Indian missions/posts encourage Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on the MADAD portal so that their grievances and outstanding issues can be addressed, he added.

The reply stated that Indian students are urged to remain connected on a regular basis so that missions/posts can respond to the outstanding issues they face on priority. Student grievances are dealt with in a timely manner through telephone calls, walk-ins, emails, social media, 24-hour emergency helplines, open houses, and MADAD portal.

“Complaints received from the Indian students abroad are taken up with the concerned university/institution and the host government for requisite action. Cases of untoward incidents are also immediately taken up by the Indian missions/posts abroad with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated, and the perpetrators are punished. During emergencies or crisis situations, Indian missions/posts abroad proactively help distressed/stranded Indian students overseas by providing them food, shelter, medicines and ensure their return/evacuation to India as soon as possible,” Singh said.