New Delhi: Around 6.46 lakh Indian students have gone to foreign countries for higher studies till November 30 this year. This is the highest figure in the last six years. Last year, 4.44 lakh students had gone abroad for higher education.

But the central government has clarified that it does not have the exact figure on the number of students who go abroad for studies. The Centre submitted the information in the Parliament based on the details collected from visa applications, among others.

Countries such as the US and UK had issued a record number of visas to Indian students this year. Around 82,000 students' visas were granted till August this year, as per the information provided by the US embassy. Last year, the US granted 62,000 visas.

The British High Commission had granted 1,17,965 visas to Indian students during the one year till June 2022, while 37,396 visas were issued in 2019.