The Diwali Issue 2025

Do Most Indian Students Stay Abroad After Graduation? The Myth, The Data, and What It Means

A persistent story in media and policy debates is that Indian students flood abroad to study and then remain in their “destination” countries whether it be in Australia, Canada, the UK, or the US, in numbers many assume are permanent. The recent changes to the US H-1B visa regime, where Indians receive about 71% of approved visas (China the next highest at ~12%), have intensified this narrative. Suddenly, the idea is everywhere that the best and brightest are staying put, “stealing domestic workers’ jobs.” But the evidence suggests something far more nuanced: many Indian graduates return home, and their return is central to their careers and to India’s economic growth.