Indian student Niyati has returned to India two months after earning a law degree from the University of Oxford, opting against pursuing a legal career in the United Kingdom. In a public statement shared via Instagram, she said her goal in studying abroad was to gain quality education, not to emigrate, and that settling in the UK was never her intended outcome.

She cited her commitment to Pratisandhi, an initiative she co-founded focused on menstrual health and gender equity, as a key reason for returning. Niyati stated that not giving the organisation a fair chance to grow would likely result in long-term personal regret, outweighing the appeal of established career paths overseas.

Her decision aligns with a growing trend among some Indian students returning from abroad to engage in social impact work, prioritising personal values and national contribution over conventional success metrics. The 'regret minimisation' framework, popularised by Jeff Bezos, informed her choice, focusing on future self-assessment rather than short-term security.

Niyati acknowledged uncertainty about the outcome of her decision but said she is guided by the principle of making choices she is less likely to regret later. The government and civil society have not formally responded, but her move has drawn attention on social media for challenging prevailing narratives around overseas education and success.