Why Indian Medical Students Keep Returning from War Zones: The Iran 2025 Evacuation Explained

Summary

• Over 2,000 Indian students—mostly from Kashmir—were studying in Iran when the Israel conflict erupted.
• Despite expanded medical seats in India, fierce competition and high private fees push students abroad.
• Iran attracts Kashmiri students due to historical, cultural, and religious affinities—despite rising risks.

Beyond Borders, Beneath Pressure: Why Indian Students Keep Choosing Iran for MBBS

The Iran–Israel conflict has once again triggered an emergency evacuation—this time of Indian medical students trapped in Tehran. As the Air Force executed coordinated flights and diplomatic teams scrambled for permissions, one sobering question re-emerged in public discourse: Why do so many Indian students study medicine abroad, often in politically unstable regions like Iran?

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, over 2,000 Indian students were studying in Iran as of 2022, primarily at medical institutions like Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, and Islamic Azad University. In 2025, the majority of these students—those caught amid the hostilities—were from Kashmir.

The conflict-induced return of Indian medical students Iran 2025 is not an isolated event. It mirrors the 2022 Russia–Ukraine crisis, which forced thousands of Indian MBBS students back home under ‘Operation Ganga.’ These back-to-back evacuations have not curbed the trend. Instead, the numbers continue to grow. In 2024 alone, 79,000 candidates appeared for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), a 28% increase from the year before.

The pattern reflects a deeper issue—of cost, competition, cultural ties, and regulatory gaps—shaping India’s outbound medical education industry.

Proud moment. India successfully evacuated 110 medical students from #Iran amid rising tensions — including over 90 ethnic Kashmiri Muslim girls studying at Urmia Medical University.

This is what real leadership looks like.
No religion, no region — just one identity: Indian!! pic.twitter.com/cDQQ89AFDC

— ALI (@Nayakash1) June 19, 2025

The Numbers Game: More MBBS Seats, Still Not Enough

India has made strides in expanding medical education, with public policy pushing for more medical colleges across rural and urban areas. Yet, the system remains overwhelmed. With over 22 lakh students competing for just over one lakh MBBS seats—and barely half of those in affordable government institutions—the stress of the funnel is real.

A student with a NEET-UG rank of 50,000 may technically be eligible for admission, but likely only in a private college where the tuition runs into crores. “It’s just simple economics,” said Dr Pawanindra Lal, former executive director of the National Board of Examinations. “You can get the same degree in countries like Iran at one-tenth the cost.”

Despite regulatory upgrades, such as mandated 54-month courses and local eligibility conditions, the appeal of affordable international MBBS degrees remains strong. The consistent rise in FMGE candidates shows that for many families, foreign education is not a luxury—it’s the only path into medicine.

Why Iran, Why Kashmir?

For Kashmiri students, Iran is more than a budget-friendly alternative. It is a place of cultural kinship. “Kashmir has long been referred to as Iran-e-Sagheer,” said Prof. Syed Akhtar Hussain of JNU. “The culture, topography, even crafts and religious practices, have deep links with Iran.”

This bond was cemented in the 13th century when Persian saint Mir Sayyed Ali Hamadani migrated to Kashmir, bringing crafts, art forms, and religious teachings. Today, that heritage persists in language, theology, and even college admission forms.

Iran reportedly provides concessions for Shia students from Kashmir, often referred to as the “pargees quota.” These students face lower language barriers, enjoy easier entry procedures, and benefit from reduced tuition costs.

Despite the risks—exemplified by the Indian medical students Iran 2025 evacuation—many families still view Iran as safer and more familiar than other foreign destinations. Medical institutions in Tehran remain popular, while the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad host students of Islamic theology.

The Risks No One Talks About

There’s a darker side to outbound medical education, and it’s rarely discussed until crises strike. Students often enter foreign medical programs with little oversight. Some universities operate on a dual-track: one for domestic students aimed at full licensure, and another designed to churn out degrees for fee-paying foreigners—many of whom will never work in the host country.

This has regulatory consequences. India’s National Medical Commission has now mandated that students must be eligible to practise in their country of study to qualify for Indian licensure. Yet this rule is difficult to enforce retroactively, leaving thousands in limbo.

Even when students return, their path to becoming practising doctors is treacherous. The FMGE remains an intimidating hurdle with a sub-30% pass rate. “FMGE questions are not designed to trick students—they simply test applied knowledge,” said Dr Lal. “And yet many fail after multiple attempts.”

Without robust internships, practical exposure, or clinical rotations, students return home with theory-heavy, practice-light medical training. Employers remain sceptical, and graduates struggle to find placements—despite holding an MBBS degree.

But once these students touch down, they enter a fog of regulatory opacity and professional stagnation.

Learning Nothing from Every Evacuation

Operation Ganga. Operation Kaveri. Operation Rising Lion. Now, the Iran–Israel fallout. India has repeatedly shown it can rescue its citizens from global crises—but it has yet to ask why so many are there in the first place. The Indian medical students Iran 2025 evacuation should be a wake-up call to overhaul not just education policy, but our global student safety net.

Until India makes domestic medical education both affordable and accessible, families will continue to send their children into geopolitical hotspots for a degree. And every few years, when the world burns again, those students will come home—uncertain, unlicensed, and still unheard.