Score:
7.5/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS1
SOCIAL_ISSUES_AND_SCHEMES
15 marks
India is witnessing a rapid rise in self-financed student migration. Analyse the changing nature of this trend and examine the socio-economic challenges it poses. Suggest measures to convert student mobility into a source of human capital gain rather than brain waste.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Analyze changing nature of self-financed student migration trend
- Examine socio-economic challenges it poses
- Suggest measures to convert student mobility into human capital gain rather than brain waste
What you wrote:
Indian students are fuelling their aspirations to shift abroad for studies, mainly through self financing (loans, savings). This is a stark change in nature of migration.
Indian students are fuelling their aspirations to shift abroad for studies, mainly through self financing (loans, savings). This is a stark change in nature of migration.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen with recent data (e.g., Indian students abroad increased from 7.5 lakh in 2017 to 13.2 lakh in 2022, making India the largest source of international students globally).
What you wrote:
CHANGING NATURE OF STUDENT MIGRATION
1) In 1960s, many engineers and doctors shifted to USA for higher studies through elite scholarships.
2) Post liberalisation, Middle class has grown more affluent. Their savings and assets have increased.
3) Middle class students thus have migrated to US, Europe, Australia using education loans, assets as collateral. liberal visa.
[GRAPH: A line graph showing "Student Migration" on the y-axis against "Time (Years)" on the x-axis. The x-axis is marked from "1960" to "2020" in increments of 10 years, with a specific mark for "2018". The curve starts low and flat from 1960 to around 1990, and this section is labeled "elite scholarships (IIT)". After 1990, the curve rises steeply until 2018. This rising section is labeled "Middle Class loans, savings and debt". After 2018, the curve shows a slight dip, which is labeled "protectionism (Trump policies)".]
CHANGING NATURE OF STUDENT MIGRATION
1) In 1960s, many engineers and doctors shifted to USA for higher studies through elite scholarships.
2) Post liberalisation, Middle class has grown more affluent. Their savings and assets have increased.
3) Middle class students thus have migrated to US, Europe, Australia using education loans, assets as collateral. liberal visa.
[GRAPH: A line graph showing "Student Migration" on the y-axis against "Time (Years)" on the x-axis. The x-axis is marked from "1960" to "2020" in increments of 10 years, with a specific mark for "2018". The curve starts low and flat from 1960 to around 1990, and this section is labeled "elite scholarships (IIT)". After 1990, the curve rises steeply until 2018. This rising section is labeled "Middle Class loans, savings and debt". After 2018, the curve shows a slight dip, which is labeled "protectionism (Trump policies)".]
Suggestions to improve:
- Could highlight destination diversification (e.g., Canada became top destination with 40% of Indian students due to favorable immigration policies)
- Could mention democratization of access through digital platforms and education consultancies making information more accessible
What you wrote:
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED
1) Shows lack of opportunities in domestic higher education. eg. low placement package in IIT Mtech, PhD.
2) Middle Class Debt has increased because of education loans. eg. Foreign universities charge crores for Masters.
→ Also this is foreign currency denominated debt.
3) Parents living alone in old age. Students who go abroad want to settle there.
4) Xenophobic culture As students live in US, Europe, they get good jobs in IT, healthcare. Locals feel that their jobs are at threat so they racially discriminate and harass Indian students.
5) Burgeoning Current account deficit because of university fees. eg. Audited last year, 30 billion $ left India to finance Indian students in USA.
6) Brain Drain Cream layer students don't work in National development. eg. ISRO has <1% IITians.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED
1) Shows lack of opportunities in domestic higher education. eg. low placement package in IIT Mtech, PhD.
2) Middle Class Debt has increased because of education loans. eg. Foreign universities charge crores for Masters.
→ Also this is foreign currency denominated debt.
3) Parents living alone in old age. Students who go abroad want to settle there.
4) Xenophobic culture As students live in US, Europe, they get good jobs in IT, healthcare. Locals feel that their jobs are at threat so they racially discriminate and harass Indian students.
5) Burgeoning Current account deficit because of university fees. eg. Audited last year, 30 billion $ left India to finance Indian students in USA.
6) Brain Drain Cream layer students don't work in National development. eg. ISRO has <1% IITians.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could explore credential recognition issues (e.g., foreign degrees not recognized by Indian professional bodies, creating employment barriers)
- Could discuss opportunity cost for domestic institutions losing potential researchers and innovators
What you wrote:
MEASURES TO TURN BRAIN WASTE TO HUMAN CAPITAL GAINS
1) Improve opportunities for Indian students who study abroad to come work in India. eg. IT Entrepreneurship for US Return Students can be encouraged by Government programmes.
2) Research and Development led by student mobility. We can learn from 1000 lights programme of China where they provide 1 million$ scholarship to students in Top 100 university to come work in Chinese labs.
3) Lucrative and deregulated investment options. Students send remittances back to India. Govt can expand the liberalised Remittance Scheme, NRP accounts to make it easier to invest in Indian G-Secs, stocks.
MEASURES TO TURN BRAIN WASTE TO HUMAN CAPITAL GAINS
1) Improve opportunities for Indian students who study abroad to come work in India. eg. IT Entrepreneurship for US Return Students can be encouraged by Government programmes.
2) Research and Development led by student mobility. We can learn from 1000 lights programme of China where they provide 1 million$ scholarship to students in Top 100 university to come work in Chinese labs.
3) Lucrative and deregulated investment options. Students send remittances back to India. Govt can expand the liberalised Remittance Scheme, NRP accounts to make it easier to invest in Indian G-Secs, stocks.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could propose reverse brain drain incentives (e.g., fast-track visa schemes for returning students, tax benefits for startups by diaspora)
- Could suggest virtual engagement models (e.g., online mentorship programs, collaborative research projects allowing diaspora to contribute without physical return)
- Could mention improving domestic education infrastructure (e.g., establishing world-class universities through Education City model like in Qatar)
What you wrote:
Students who go abroad have aspirations. To achieve Viksit Bhaarat and improve human capital, Govt policy must align with aspirations and guide/ invite them to come back and work in India.
Students who go abroad have aspirations. To achieve Viksit Bhaarat and improve human capital, Govt policy must align with aspirations and guide/ invite them to come back and work in India.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen by linking to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and emphasizing need for circular migration policies that benefit both origin and destination countries.
Your answer demonstrates strong analytical skills with good use of data and examples. The graph effectively illustrates the trend shift. However, you could enhance coverage of institutional reforms and diaspora engagement strategies for a more comprehensive response.
Demand of the Question
- Analyze changing nature of self-financed student migration trend
- Examine socio-economic challenges it poses
- Suggest measures to convert student mobility into human capital gain rather than brain waste
What you wrote:
Indian students are fuelling their aspirations to shift abroad for studies, mainly through self financing (loans, savings). This is a stark change in nature of migration.
Indian students are fuelling their aspirations to shift abroad for studies, mainly through self financing (loans, savings). This is a stark change in nature of migration.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen with recent data (e.g., Indian students abroad increased from 7.5 lakh in 2017 to 13.2 lakh in 2022, making India the largest source of international students globally).
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