• January 22, 2026

Number of Indian students going abroad and overseas travel decline, says report

NEW DELHI Jan 23: The number of Indian students going abroad has declined, reflecting weaker spending on overseas education. Education-related remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme fell sharply, indicating fewer students enrolling in foreign institutions or lower education expenses. Analysts attribute the slowdown to higher costs, tighter visa norms, and changing global conditions, making overseas education less attractive compared with previous years.

India’s outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) fell to a two-year low in November 2025, driven by weaker spending on overseas travel and education and seasonal factors, according to a Times of India report.

Total remittances dropped 18% month-on-month to $1,937.2 million from $2,364.5 million in October. Travel—the largest component—declined to $1,101.5 million from $1,352.6 million in October, broadly in line with $1,113.8 million recorded a year earlier.

Remittances for the maintenance of close relatives also eased to $248.3 million, down from $273.9 million in October and $276.9 million in November last year. Equity and debt investments saw a sharp fall to $174 million from $273.1 million in October, though they remained higher than $85.8 million a year ago. Gifts slipped marginally to $194.3 million from $197.5 million, and were below $216.5 million in November 2024.

Education-related outflows weakened further, with spending on studies abroad falling to $121 million from $163.3 million in October and $172.4 million a year earlier.

Meanwhile, outstanding NRI deposits declined by $250 million to $167.9 billion. Analysts cited in the TOI report attributed the slowdown largely to seasonal travel trends and softer overseas education spending—two key drivers of outward remittances.