Russia has emerged as the country with the highest number of complaints related to exploitation and racial discrimination filed by Indian students studying abroad, according to data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Parliament.
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that Indian missions across the world registered more than 350 complaints from students in 2025, with over 200 complaints originating from Russia alone. This made Russia the highest reporting country among 196 destinations worldwide.
The data shows a sharp rise in complaints from Russia over the past two years. In 2023, only 66 complaints were recorded. This number increased to 201 in 2024, including 196 cases registered with the Indian Embassy in Moscow and five with the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg.
Popular Destination, Rising Concerns
Russia has long been a preferred destination for Indian students, particularly for courses in medicine and engineering, owing to comparatively affordable tuition fees, simpler admission processes, and internationally recognised degrees. As of 2024, an estimated over 31,000 Indian students were enrolled in Russian universities.
However, students and community organisations have reported a range of issues, including exploitation, harassment, denial of wages, and racial discrimination. The growing number of complaints has intensified concerns over the safety and well-being of Indian students in the country.
The issue has gained further attention following reports of violent incidents involving Indian students. In the most recent case, four Indian nationals were injured in a knife attack in Ufa, a city in Russia.
Other Countries Reporting Complaints
After Russia, Georgia recorded 20 complaints, while Kyrgyzstan accounted for 14 cases in 2025. Data consolidated over a four-year period also shows that France registered 97 complaints from Indian students with the Indian mission in Paris.
Government Response And Support Mechanisms
Addressing the concerns, Mr Singh said that the government accords the highest priority to the safety, protection, and welfare of Indian students and workers abroad.
“There are established channels to enable Indian nationals to reach out to Indian Embassies and Consulates in case of distress,” he said. These include walk-in assistance, email support, multilingual 24×7 emergency helplines, WhatsApp numbers, and grievance redressal platforms such as MADAD, CPGRAMS, and eMigrate, as well as social media outreach.
The Minister added that the Centre has put in place a robust institutional framework to promote safe and legal migration, ensure welfare, and prevent exploitation of Indians overseas.
