Washington, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The number of Indian students with active records in the United States has declined by around 13.5 per cent in a year to 316,893, according to US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data, with the steepest fall recorded in master’s programmes.
Figures published by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) show that the number of active Indian students fell from 366,258 in October 2025 to 316,893 in October 2026, a decline of 49,365.
Despite the drop, India remained the largest source of international students in the US.
The decline among Indian students was considerably higher than the overall fall in international student numbers. The total number of active international students decreased by around 7.1 per cent, from 1,283,240 in October 2025 to 1,192,572 in October 2026.
China, the second-largest source of international students, recorded a decline of around 10.2 per cent, with its numbers falling from 245,038 to 220,157.
India’s share of the total international student population in the US also decreased, from approximately 28.5 per cent to 26.6 per cent.
The sharpest decline among Indian students was in master’s programmes, which account for the largest share of Indian enrolment. Their numbers fell from 292,929 in October 2025 to 234,034 in October 2026, a drop of around 20 per cent.
In contrast, Indian doctoral enrolment increased from 28,609 to 41,729 during the same period. The number of Indian bachelor’s students stood at 36,011 in October 2026, compared with 38,522 a year earlier.
Of the 316,893 Indian students recorded in October 2026, 195,341 were male and 121,552 were female.
The SEVIS figures count students with active records in the system, including those participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT). They represent a snapshot for a particular month rather than the total number of students enrolled over an entire year.
The decline comes amid tighter US scrutiny of student visas, proposed fees on OPT and STEM extensions, and a broader crackdown on legal immigration pathways.
Indiaspora, a nonprofit network of Indian-origin leaders, said in a statement on October 30 that “Fewer Indian students are choosing to study in the United States”. It linked the trend to what it described as “anti-Indian rhetoric” during the election season.
Other South Asian countries also recorded declines. Nepal’s active student numbers fell from 35,273 to 33,992 over the year.
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