HYDERABAD: At a time when a knife assault that left 4 Indian college students injured in Russia has put the highlight on the challenges confronted by them within the nation, newest exterior affairs ministry knowledge reveals that over 50% of all complaints of exploitation and racial discrimination reported by Indian college students globally originate from Russia, with Moscow rising as the most important hotspot. As per the info, Indian college students throughout 196 nations registered round 350 complaints of exploitation, harassment and racial discrimination in 2025. Of those, greater than 200 got here from Russia alone.
What has raised severe concern is the steep rise in such circumstances over the previous three years – from 68 complaints in 2023 to 78 in 2024, earlier than surging to 201 in 2025. The vast majority of Indian medical college students in Russia belong to states akin to RajasthanGujarat, Andhra PradeshTelangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Whereas Russia stays some of the well-liked locations for Indian college students, notably these pursuing medical schooling, attributable to comparatively decrease tuition charges and simpler admission processes, the sharp enhance in complaints has triggered severe security issues. Instances unreported for worry of expulsion College students in Russia whom TOI spoke to mentioned they’re routinely discriminated towards by college students from different nations, with some even alleging psychological harassment by universities themselves, together with threats of expulsion over minor points or violations. They mentioned a lot of their grievances by no means attain official channels attributable to worry of retaliation from varsities or issues associated to visas and immigration. “Throughout my sixth 12 months, a bunch of international college students attacked Indian college students within the hostel kitchen over a minor argument and threatened them with a knife,” mentioned Kanishka Ok, a graduate from Bashkir State Medical College, Moscow. He reiterated that “many such incidents are by no means reported as a result of college students are terrified of being focused or expelled”. Members of International Medical Graduates associations admitted to widespread racial profiling, verbal abuse and an absence of institutional assist for Indian college students in Russia. “Complaints are not often taken significantly. College students undergo in silence as universities usually sideline them,” mentioned D Kaushal, coordinator of All FMGs. He additional claimed that whereas Russian laws restrict international consumption to round 200 college students per establishment, some universities admit over 1,200 college students and later expel them, typically even in sixth 12 months, in violation of norms. “Such expulsions go away college students in extreme monetary and psychological misery,” he mentioned. Owing to the deteriorating scenario, FMGs say many Indian college students at the moment are choosing Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as an alternative. “The variety of Indian college students selecting Russia has declined considerably, by at the very least 50%, in recent times attributable to these points. Furthermore, because the Russia-Ukraine warfare in 2022, Indian college students have proven declining curiosity in pursuing MBBS in Russia due to security issues and educational uncertainty,” mentioned Manoj Kumar, president of the FMGs Affiliation of India. Missions for college students welfare points In the meantime, replying to a latest LS question on Indian staff and college students going through exploitation, detention, wage denial and racial discrimination overseas, minister of state for exterior affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh mentioned devoted officers have been posted in Indian missions and posts abroad to deal with schooling and pupil welfare-related issues. “Our missions keep common contact with Indian college students enrolled overseas and temporary them on challenges and threats, if any, that they could confront throughout their keep there. Heads of missions and senior embassy officers go to international instructional establishments of their respective nations of accreditation to work together with Indian college students and college students’ associations,” he mentioned.