72,000 foreign students in India: Government

The Government on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that there are 72,218 foreign students currently in India from about 200 countries.

Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar also informed that Rs 6,198.99 crore has been sanctioned for 8 public institutions since the inception of the World Class Institutions scheme to grant status of Institution of Eminence (IoE).

He also highlighted that as many as 54 higher education institutions have been ranked in QS World University Rankings (QS WUR) 2026, as against 11 institutions in 2014-15 when the BJP came to power in the Centre.

“Now, 54 Indian institutions have been ranked in the QS WUR 2026,” the minister said, adding that this is India's highest-ever representation in QS WUR. Majumdar said, “India has around 72,218 foreign students. They are from 200 countries studying different courses.”