Russia Emerges as Primary Source of Exploitation Complaints from Indian Students Globally
Recent data from the Ministry of External Affairs has unveiled a troubling pattern concerning Indian students abroad. At a time when a knife attack injuring four Indian students in Russia has heightened awareness of their challenges, the statistics indicate that more than half of all complaints regarding exploitation and racial discrimination reported by Indian students worldwide originate from Russia. Moscow has been identified as the most significant hotspot for these incidents.
Alarming Rise in Complaints Over Three Years
According to the official figures, Indian students across 196 countries registered approximately 350 complaints of exploitation, harassment, and racial discrimination in the year 2025. Strikingly, over 200 of these complaints came from Russia alone. This represents a sharp and concerning escalation over the past three years. The number of complaints surged from 68 in 2023 to 78 in 2024, before skyrocketing to 201 in 2025.
The majority of Indian medical students in Russia hail from states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. While Russia remains a favored destination for Indian students, particularly those pursuing medical education due to lower tuition fees and simpler admission processes, this dramatic increase in grievances has sparked serious safety apprehensions.
Fear of Retaliation Suppresses Reporting
Students in Russia interviewed by TOI disclosed that they frequently face discrimination from peers of other nationalities. Some even alleged mental harassment by the universities themselves, including threats of expulsion over minor infractions. Many grievances remain unreported through official channels due to fears of retaliation from educational institutions or complications involving visas and immigration status.
"During my sixth year, a group of foreign students attacked Indian students in the hostel kitchen over a minor argument and threatened them with a knife," recounted Kanishka K, a graduate from Bashkir State Medical University in Moscow. He emphasized that "many such incidents are never reported because students are scared of being targeted or expelled."
Institutional Failures and Racial Profiling
Representatives from Foreign Medical Graduates associations acknowledged widespread issues of racial profiling, verbal abuse, and a lack of institutional support for Indian students in Russia. "Complaints are rarely taken seriously. Students suffer in silence as universities often sideline them," stated D Kaushal, coordinator of All FMGs.
He further alleged that while Russian regulations cap foreign student intake at around 200 per institution, some universities admit over 1,200 students and later expel them, sometimes even in the sixth year, violating established norms. "Such expulsions leave students in severe financial and psychological distress," he added.
Shift in Student Preferences and Government Response
Due to the deteriorating conditions, FMGs report that many Indian students are now opting for alternative destinations like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. "The number of Indian students choosing Russia has declined significantly, by at least 50%, in recent years due to these issues. Moreover, since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Indian students have shown declining interest in pursuing MBBS in Russia because of safety concerns and academic uncertainty," explained Manoj Kumar, president of the FMGs Association of India.
In response to these challenges, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, addressing a recent Lok Sabha query on exploitation faced by Indian workers and students abroad, outlined measures being taken. Dedicated officers have been stationed in Indian missions and posts overseas to handle education and student welfare matters.
"Our missions maintain regular contact with Indian students enrolled abroad and brief them on challenges and threats, if any, that they may confront during their stay there. Heads of missions and senior embassy officers visit foreign educational institutions in their respective countries of accreditation to interact with Indian students and students' associations," he stated.
