Abstract

The migration of skilled youth and the phenomenon of brain drain have long been central to debates on India’s development trajectory. Between 2018 and 2025 this issue became even more pressing due to globalization rising opportunities abroad the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic challenges in employment wages and research opportunities. While India benefited from remittances global networks and the return of experienced professionals the continued outflow of talent in science technology medicine and higher education raised concerns about the nation’s ability to retain and harness its best minds. This paper explores the patterns causes and consequences of skilled youth migration during this period. It argues that brain drain reflects both the aspirations of Indian youth to engage globally and the structural deficiencies of India’s domestic economy including underemployment lack of research funding and limited institutional support. The paper concludes that reversing brain drain requires sy