Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the government has informed Parliament that nearly 1,000 Indian nationals continue to remain in Iran, while a massive 23,000 CBSE students across the Gulf region have been unable to appear for their board examinations due to the ongoing crisis.

The update was shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on Wednesday.

Committee chairman Shashi Tharoor said that while around 1,000 Indians are still in Iran, not all have expressed a desire to return. “There are about 1,000 still in Iran, but not all of them necessarily wish to leave,” he told reporters after the बैठक.

A major concern raised during the discussions was the academic future of thousands of Indian students in the Gulf. According to Tharoor, students of Classes 10 and 12 have been unable to take their ongoing CBSE final examinations due to the disruption.

He added that the issue has already triggered consultations between the MEA and the Ministry of Education to work out remedial measures. “Efforts are underway to ensure CBSE makes alternative arrangements for the 23,000 affected students,” he said.

On the broader regional situation, Tharoor noted that travel across several Gulf countries remains largely functional, with commercial flights operating from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, though connectivity is relatively limited in Qatar and Bahrain. “It is no longer a question of being stranded, but there are still complications,” he said.

The panel also reviewed the well-being of the Indian diaspora and briefly discussed disruptions to energy logistics, including a small number of petroleum-linked vessels affected by the crisis, though exact figures were not available.

Separately, the committee deliberated on the implications of the upcoming AI Impact Summit, focusing on its relevance for India’s tech diplomacy and engagement with the Global South.

Calling it a “comprehensive and thorough” session, Tharoor underscored the urgency of coordinated responses to both geopolitical disruptions and their cascading impact on Indian citizens abroad.