Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Indian Investor Advises Young Indians to Seek Opportunities Abroad
Some people in India, like a businessman named Basant, are saying that if you are young, want to do well in your career, and don't have a lot of money, it might be a good idea to move to another country.
He thinks it's hard to save money in India, especially for holidays.
Many young Indians are already going to countries like the US, Canada, and the UK to study.
The number of Indian students going abroad has gone up a lot.
However, other people in India disagree.
They think India is a great place for ambitious young people, especially if they move to smaller cities and work online.
Some also feel that moving abroad can be tough because of racism, job problems, and high living costs.
They believe it's better for people to stay in India and work hard for the country's future.
Indian investor Basant Maheshwari advised young, ambitious, and less wealthy Indians to consider settling abroad.
The number of Indian students studying abroad has significantly increased, reaching an estimated 1.8 million in 2025.
The US has seen a notable surge in Indian students, making India the largest source of international students there, surpassing China.
While Canada and the UK remain popular, Germany and Ireland are also emerging as preferred destinations.
Netizens debated Maheshwari's advice, with some arguing India offers ample opportunities and others highlighting the challenges of living abroad compared to staying in India.
- Who
- Young, ambitious, and less affluent Indians, and Indian investor Basant Maheshwari.
- What
- Discussion and advice regarding the trend of young Indians seeking to settle or study abroad, with differing opinions on whether this is beneficial for individuals and the nation.
- When
- Recent discussions spurred by Basant Maheshwari's tweet and related commentary. Student data is for 2023, 2024, and estimated for 2025.
- Where
- India and various international destinations including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and Australia.
- Why
- Driven by ambition, desire for better career opportunities, perceived high cost of living in India, and varying nationalistic sentiments.
Advice to Settle Abroad
Arguments for Staying in India
Ambition and Opportunity
Advice to Settle Abroad
Basant Maheshwari advises young, ambitious, and less affluent Indians to consider settling abroad for better opportunities and to escape high living costs in India.
Arguments for Staying in India
Some netizens argue that India itself is the best place for the ambitious, suggesting a shift to smaller towns to leverage low expenses and pursue careers in fields like AI, serving Western markets remotely.
Cost of Living and Vacations
Advice to Settle Abroad
Maheshwari criticizes the high cost of vacations in India, stating they are comparable to foreign destinations, and labels Indian hotel rates as a 'scam'.
Arguments for Staying in India
Users point out that while location matters, mindset is more crucial, and suggest that the challenges faced abroad (racism, job insecurity, debt, cost of living crisis) might lead to a desire to return to India.
Individual vs. National Perspective
Advice to Settle Abroad
From an individual standpoint, choosing to go abroad is a personal decision.
Arguments for Staying in India
From a national perspective, encouraging citizens to settle abroad is viewed negatively, with a call for present sacrifices for future national benefit, comparing going abroad to 'changing the pot' if a plant isn't growing.
- Indian Students Abroad (2025 Estimate)
- 1.8 million
- Indian Students Abroad (2023)
- 1.3 million
- Indian Students in US (2024)
- 331,602
- Increase in Indian Students in US (YoY)
- 23%
- Indian Students in Canada (2024)
- 137,608
- Indian Students in UK (2024)
- 98,890
- Indian Students in Germany (2023-24)
- 49,483
