The number of Indian students going to the United States has doubled in the last 10 years, said the officials in the Embassy of the United States during the fifth annual edition of Student Visa Day on Wednesday.

“In 2018, around 196,000 Indian students enrolled in the higher education institutions in the US which is more than double the number of students from a decade ago,” said MaryKay Carlson, Charge d’ Affaires (CDA), Embassy of the USA. International educational exchanges create an understanding of new viewpoints and cultures, which is necessary as students enter an increasingly competitive global marketplace, she added.

“Through the Student Visa Day, the idea is to highlight the importance and significance of students and celebrate higher education ties between India and the US,” said Karl Adam, Deputy Cultural Affairs Officer, Embassy of the USA. According to the US Embassy, Indians represent over 17 per cent of the total international student population in the US. After China, India is the second-leading place of origin for students coming to the US.

The Embassy also launched the EducationUSA India mobile application. The app aims is to give Indian students easy access to official, credible and comprehensive information on navigating the US higher education admission process. “This free app helps Indian students and parents get answers, track progress and connect with EducationUSA advisers and resources at the touch of a button,” said the statement.