Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern on Saturday regarding the increasing trend among Indian youth to pursue education abroad, labeling it as a "new disease" that leads to both a "forex drain and brain drain." Speaking at an event organized by a private educational institution in Sikar, Rajasthan, he criticized the commercialization of education, stating that it negatively impacts quality and poses challenges for the nation’s future.

Dhankhar remarked, "Many children harbor dreams of studying abroad, but they often fail to evaluate the quality of the institutions and countries they aspire to attend." He highlighted that approximately 1.3 million students are expected to study overseas in 2024, emphasizing the need for awareness about the potential of their future if they chose to study in India instead.

He pointed out that this trend results in a significant loss of foreign exchange, amounting to around $6 billion. He urged industry leaders to take an active role in raising awareness among students and preventing this dual drain on resources.

"If $6 billion were invested in enhancing the infrastructure of educational institutions, just imagine the advancements we could achieve! This situation should not be allowed to continue," he stressed, calling for educational institutions to enlighten their students about international scenarios.

The Vice President also expressed concern that the commercialization of education is evolving into what he termed "extortion," which poses a serious issue for the country. He advocated for the effective use of technology to provide quality education and praised the National Education Policy, describing it as a transformative initiative for the education sector.