HYDERABAD: In the wake of a recent knife attack that injured four Indian students in Russia, new data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revealed that more than half of all complaints of exploitation and racial discrimination filed by Indian students worldwide originate from Russia, making it the biggest hotspot for such cases.
According to official figures, Indian students across 196 countries lodged around 350 complaints related to exploitation, harassment, and racial discrimination in 2025. Of these, over 200 were reported from Russia alone.
Sharp Rise in Complaints
The data points to a worrying rise in cases over the past three years, with complaints increasing from 68 in 2023 to 78 in 2024, before surging to 201 in 2025.
Most Indian medical students in Russia come from states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Russia has traditionally been a preferred destination for MBBS aspirants due to lower fees and relatively easy admission procedures. However, the steep rise in grievances has raised serious concerns over student safety and welfare.
Fear Keeps Many Cases Unreported
Students said discrimination by peers from other countries is common, and some alleged mental harassment by university authorities, including threats of expulsion over minor issues. Many incidents, they claimed, are never formally reported due to fear of retaliation or visa-related complications.
“During my sixth year, a group of foreign students attacked Indians in the hostel kitchen over a minor dispute and threatened them with a knife,” said Kanishka K, a graduate of Bashkir State Medical University. “Many such incidents go unreported because students are scared of being targeted or expelled,” he added.
Allegations Against Universities
Representatives of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) associations acknowledged widespread racial profiling, verbal abuse, and lack of institutional support.
“Complaints are rarely taken seriously. Universities often sideline Indian students, forcing them to suffer in silence,” said D. Kaushal, coordinator of All FMGs.
He also alleged that while Russian regulations cap foreign student intake at around 200 per institution, some universities admit more than 1,200 students and later expel them, even in the final year.
“Such expulsions cause severe financial and psychological distress,” he said.
Shift to Other Countries
Due to the worsening situation, FMGs said many Indian students are now opting for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan instead of Russia.
“The number of Indian students choosing Russia has fallen by at least 50% in recent years. Since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, safety concerns and academic uncertainty have further reduced interest,” said Manoj Kumar, president of the FMGs Association of India.
Government Measures
Replying to a Lok Sabha query on exploitation and discrimination faced by Indians abroad, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said dedicated officers have been posted in Indian missions overseas to address education and student welfare issues.
“Our missions remain in regular contact with Indian students and brief them about possible challenges and threats. Heads of missions and senior embassy officials also visit educational institutions to interact with students and their associations,” he said.
The MEA said it continues to monitor the situation and engage with host authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian students abroad.
