According to the attached official documents,

A non-EU student, who only has a receipt of a first request for a residence permit (récépissé de première demande de carte de séjour):

• Cannot travel to India and return to France unless he has applied for a Visa de retour from France

  • If a student does not apply for a Visa de retour from France he will have to apply for a Visa de retour from India

  • Very Important: in the above case, applicant will be required to give a valid reason for applying from India instead of France.

A non-EU student, who has a residence permit i.e residence card (carte de séjour) or renewal receipt (récépissé de demande de renouvellement de titre de séjour)

• Do not need a visa de retour

• Can travel outside France and come back to France with the residence card or the renewal receipt.