India has become one of the world’s largest exporters of students, with millions of Indians studying abroad in recent years. However, a major national report highlights a stark contrast: inbound international students to India remain extremely low, accounting for less than 1 % of students globally choosing India as a study destination, despite its large population, English-medium programmes and long academic traditions. This imbalance suggests not just a “brain drain” but a missed opportunity for India to leverage its demographic advantage in the global education market.

For every learner who comes to India, dozens more leave for countries like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany, drawn by global reputation, post-study work rights and stronger links between education and employment opportunities. This one-way mobility has economic costs — including lost tuition revenue and diminished campus diversity — as well as reputational consequences for Indian universities that lag in global rankings.

Structural challenges hold India back: limited presence of globally ranked institutions, curricula not aligned with international systems, complex visa processes and weak global branding all deter prospective foreign students. While policy reforms like opening campuses and updating education frameworks offer promise, significant system-wide efforts will be needed if India hopes to transform into a true global study destination and rebalance its student mobility flows.