The US Congress recently approved a resolution acknowledging the significant contributions of the Indian-American community and graduates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in the United States. Subramanian Raja Krishnamoorthi, the US representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district, successfully introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives.
Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the presence of Indian-American residents enriches the United States, recognizing the valuable and substantial contributions made by the Indian-American community and IIT graduates across various professions and disciplines. Describing IIT graduates as ‘Committed,’ he highlighted their dedication to research, innovation, and fostering trade and international cooperation between India and the US.
The representative urged the House to acknowledge the pivotal role played by Indian-Americans in US society and to honor the technological, scientific, and economic innovations attributed to IIT graduates.
According to data from the US Embassy and Consulates last year, the influx of international students from India to the US experienced a notable 35% increase, reaching an all-time high of 268,923 students in the academic year 2022-23. Indian students now constitute more than 25% of the total foreign students studying in the United States.
In a significant development, India surpassed China to become the largest source of international graduate students in the United States for the first time since 2009/10. The number of Indian graduate students witnessed a substantial 63% increase, reaching 165,936 students, representing an increment of nearly 64,000 students compared to 2022. Additionally, Indian undergraduate students also marked a 16% rise.
In the previous year, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti commended India’s success, expressing, “Congratulations, India! Every Indian student and their supportive families deserve acknowledgment for this accomplishment.” He highlighted studying abroad as a significant investment, fostering closer ties between nations and paving the way for a bright future.
