Indian Student Enrollment in US Drops by 6.9%: Govt Cites Visa Scrutiny

• More than 3.5 lakh Indian students are in the US as of February 2026, a 6.9% decline from the previous year.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed Rajya Sabha about the drop, citing data from the US Department of Homeland Security.
• US Department of State announced expanded screening and vetting for visa applicants, including comprehensive vetting of online presence.
• Applicants are now required to adjust social media privacy settings to 'public' to facilitate vetting.
• Increased scrutiny and compliance requirements, including post-approval monitoring and potential deportation for rule-breaking, have impacted US student visas for Indian nationals.