By Dr Tapash Kumar Ganguli
For many decades, the allure of studying overseas had two dimensions, a pathway to graduate as an alumnus of some of the world’s top-notch universities, as well as, a route for career progression. The aspirational quotient associated with a foreign degree got associated with prestige and social upward mobility.
However, if recent data is any consolation, this trajectory is now shifting. The ‘brain-drain’ is potentially reversing and it’s a good sign for the infrastructure industry.
According to latest reports, the number of Indian students opting to study overseas has been declining for three consecutive years, highlighting a structural slowdown than a temporary trend. The Ministry of Education revealed that, in 2023, over 9.08 lakh Indian students travelled overseas for higher studies. By 2024, it dropped to 7.7 lakh and in 2025 it declined further to 6.26 lakh, making an overall drop of nearly 31% in the two-year period.
Global mobility uncertainty and NEP 2020
The drop in Indian students heading overseas from 2024 coincides with rising costs for foreign degrees, stricter post-work regulations and geopolitical uncertainties. Rising debate on housing, inflation, price rise and immigration in countries like the US, UK, Australia and Canada to name a few is channeling Indian students to look at home institutions. Reduced funding in global universities from their respective government for research, scientific development and overall support, is making them set up campuses in India.
Indian students applying to western universities are facing multiple policy headwinds, from multiple countries. For instance, in January 2024, the UK imposed a blanket ban on dependants for postgraduate students, deterring family-oriented applications. Additionally, the increase of minimum cost of living and reduced timeline for post-graduate work visa is deterring applications. The story is the same for Australia, where higher financial proof requirements and caps on enrolments have affected Indian applicants. In the United States, one of the most sought-after higher education markets for Indian students, changes in F-1 and J-1 visas and restricting further education, such as a second Master’s degree poses new deterrence.
However, this comes at a time when India’s domestic education landscape is undergoing a transformation.
Domestic higher education transformation
With the introduction of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), higher education in India is now focusing on multidisciplinary learning, industry integration, and aligning with global standards. This enables a graduate from Indian institutions to seamlessly enter the workforce, at home or abroad. NEP 2020, also allows flexible learning, credit transfer and global collaborations within Indian institutions.
The revised UGC guidelines enabling foreign universities to set up campuses in India, offers opportunities and challenges. Having said that, it allows Indian students to access to high-quality education without the high overseas costs, and thus, retaining the talent that India needs.
Talent retention for India’s infra story
Government allocations towards infrastructure continue to scale, with multi-lakh crore commitments under successive Union Budgets and flagship programmes such as PM Gati Shakti and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Infrastructure now contributes over 9% to GDP and represents one of the country’s largest employment generators. Yet, the sector faces a critical talent gap, particularly in specialised domains such as construction management, project execution, digital construction, sustainability, and asset lifecycle management.
As India steps up investments in urban planning, highways, logistics corridors and allied infrastructure, the kind of talent the market demands are changing. Companies are no longer looking for generic managers alone. They need professionals with engineering know-how, coupled with understanding of contracts and regulatory frameworks, interpret compliance requirements, ESG considerations and work with digital tools such as BIM in real project environments.
The economic logic also merits attention. Escalating overseas tuition fees, currency fluctuations and tighter post-study work regulations have reduced the return-on-investment equation. At the same time, domestic programmes, particularly in specialised infrastructure domains, are increasingly built around internships, industry partnerships and project-based immersion. In an economy where infrastructure spending is accelerating, being embedded within the domestic market can itself be an advantage rather than a compromise.
The more relevant question, therefore, is not whether to study abroad or stay back. It is strategic: what form of education best aligns with India’s development trajectory over the next decade?
If the country is entering its most significant infrastructure expansion cycle yet, then domain depth may matter more than global branding alone. For engineers, planners and aspiring project leaders, building expertise in construction management, infrastructure finance, sustainability and digital execution within India could prove more closely aligned with long-term opportunity.
– The author is the Director General, NICMAR
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETEducation does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETEducation will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person or organisation directly or indirectly.
