NEW DELHI: The number of Indian students enrolled in educational institutions in the United States has declined by around 6.9 per cent over the past year, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
More than 3.5 lakh Indian students are currently pursuing programmes across levels, from primary schooling to doctoral studies, in the US as of February 2026, according to data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh cited figures from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Mapping Tool of the US Department of Homeland Security.
The data showed that the number of Indian students stood at 3,78,787 in February 2025, compared to 3,52,644 in February 2026.
"The figure indicates a decline of around 6.9 per cent in overall student enrolments in US academic institutions," Singh said.
The MEA response came after queries on whether declining enrolments were linked to "scarce visa slots" and a "high percentage of rejections of visas," as well as increased scrutiny by US authorities.
Addressing concerns around visa policies, Singh referred to a June 18, 2025 release by the US Department of State titled ‘Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants’. He noted that the United States uses “all available information” in its visa screening process to identify applicants who may be “inadmissible,” including those who could “pose a threat to US national security.”
The Minister added that the current US administration has emphasised that “a US visa is a privilege, not a right.”
Under revised guidelines, applicants in F, M and J non-immigrant visa categories are subject to enhanced scrutiny, including a review of their online presence.
“The US would conduct a comprehensive vetting, including online presence of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” Singh said.
To facilitate this process, applicants are required to make their social media profiles publicly accessible.
“The new US guidance mentions that every visa adjudication is a national security decision and calls on all applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought,” he added.
The data reflects a broad-based dip across categories of study, including school-level, vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, even as the US remains a key destination for Indian students.