The Government of India has set an ambitious goal to increase the annual intake of international students in Indian higher education institutions to two lakh by 2030. The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to position India as a prominent global destination for higher education.
Currently, around 50,000 foreign students enrol in Indian institutions each year, and the government aims to quadruple this number over the next few years. Officials from the Ministry of Education stated that intensified efforts under the ‘Study in India’ programme are underway to achieve the target.
To support this expansion, the Centre is working closely with central and state universities to increase capacity and improve infrastructure, including better hostel facilities and support systems for international students. Discussions are also ongoing with state governments, as many foreign students are expected to enrol in state universities as well.
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Additionally, foreign universities establishing campuses in India will be permitted to admit international students, further strengthening India’s appeal as a global education hub. The government also plans to conduct outreach programmes in multiple countries to attract more students to Indian institutions.
According to government data presented in the Rajya Sabha earlier, over 72,000 students from nearly 200 countries are currently studying in India, highlighting the country’s growing international academic presence.
