The Engineering Exodus How South India is Driving the Global Tech Talent Shift

For decades, the image of “Indian Student Migration” has been dominated by the North, specifically Punjab and Chandigarh. The narrative was simple: students leaving for better lifestyle prospects in Canada.

But a deeper analysis of 2025 migration data reveals a completely different reality. The “Brain Drain” has shifted South, and it is no longer just about lifestyle, it is about Hard Tech.

By combining state-wise outflow numbers with academic stream data, we can see that India isn’t just exporting students; we are exporting our future engineering workforce.

1. The Myth of the “North-Only” Drain

If you ask the average person which state sends the most students abroad, they will say Punjab. They would be wrong.

According to Ministry of External Affairs data, the top exporter of talent is actually Andhra Pradesh.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs, Top Source States of Indian Students Going Abroad (2020)

As the map illustrates, the migration footprint has expanded significantly. Andhra Pradesh (~35,614 students) leads the pack, followed closely by Punjab (~33,412). Crucially, industrial and tech hubs like Maharashtra (~29,079) and Gujarat (~23,156) are now massive contributors.

This geographic shift explains why the profile of the Indian student is changing. Punjab’s migration has historically been diverse, but the surge from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra signals a departure of students from states with high densities of technical universities.

2. The STEM Obsession: What Are They Studying?

When we look at what these students are studying, the connection to the “Southern Shift” becomes undeniable. These aren’t students going for general arts or vocational diplomas. They are aggressively pursuing high-ROI technical degrees.

Source: Oxford International Digital Institute, Outbound Students from India by Stream (2021–22)

The data is stark. Engineering (16.4%) and Math & Computer Science (15.7%) are the dominant choices, collectively accounting for nearly one-third of all outbound students. Business & Management follows at 12.6%.

3. Connecting the Dots: The “Tech Corridor” to Global Hubs

The correlation is clear. States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra are India’s primary producers of engineering graduates. The fact that these specific states are now leading the outflow numbers confirms that we are witnessing a “Tech Exodus.”

• The Push Factor: Intense competition and employability gaps in domestic engineering roles.

• The Pull Factor: Global demand for specialized skills in AI, Data Science, and Computer Engineering.

Unlike the generic migration of the past, this wave is laser-focused on career ROI. Students from Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai are moving directly into the STEM pipelines of the USA and Germany.

Conclusion: A Workforce, Not Just a Crowd

The narrative that Indian students are simply “fleeing” is lazy. The data proves they are upskilling.

They are moving from India’s tech hubs to the world’s tech hubs, arming themselves with the Engineering and CS degrees that the global economy demands. The challenge for India is no longer just “retaining students”; it is retaining the very engineers who will build the next generation of technology.

About the Author: Gumidelli Sanchit is the Founder of InstaDwell, analyzing the data behind India’s student housing and migration trends.