It’s utilizing a mixture of digital and in-person strategies to advertise the 2 new visas as India strikes to grow to be a well-liked stud vacation spot in addition to one of many world’s largest sending markets.
“We’re actively exploring methods to unfold extra consciousness of this initiative through the Indian Embassies overseas by means of training festivals, webinars, and social media campaigns focused at pupil communities in key nations,” Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, chairman, College Grants Fee, informed The PIE Information.
The Ministry of Residence Affairs just lately introduced two specialised visas, dubbed the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa, for worldwide college students utilizing the Examine in India portal.
Whereas worldwide college students registered on the SII portal can entry the e-student visa facility, dependents of e-student visa holders are eligible for the e-student-x visa.
We’re actively exploring methods to unfold extra consciousness of this initiative through…training festivals, webinars, and social media campaigns focused at pupil communities in key nations
Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, UGC
Furthermore, the MHA introduced the approval of a brand new class referred to as ‘G20 Expertise Visa’ underneath sub-category (S-5 visa) of pupil visa.
The expertise visa is for scientists, researchers, school members, and scholar academicians from G20 nations to enter India for the aim of initiatives, coaching applications, post-doctoral analysis, fellowships, and extra.
“It will assist make India a extra alluring possibility for college students, significantly these within the G20 nations, contemplating learning overseas,” mentioned Kumar.
“The Examine in India portal may even prominently function data on the G20 expertise visa, together with eligibility standards and software procedures, in a number of overseas languages. We may even publicise the testimonials from college students who’ve benefited from these visas, construct belief and reveal the convenience of acquiring them.”
Launched in August 2023 by the Ministry of Schooling, the SII portal attracted over 72,218 college students from 200 nations for the tutorial yr 2024/25, in keeping with a report by The Occasions of India.
“One of many main benefits of the Examine in India portal is the elevated visibility. The portal showcases India’s numerous academic choices, elevating consciousness and curiosity amongst potential worldwide college students,” said Kumar.
“The portal gives detailed data on research applications, establishments, and scholarships in India, serving to the scholars to make knowledgeable choices.”
Based on Kumar, almost 75% of worldwide college students are pursuing undergraduate programs in India, with over 15% learning postgraduate programs, and over 4% pursuing PhD research.
Nepal is the biggest contributor to the worldwide pupil inhabitants in India, accounting for 28% of the full.
Following Nepal, college students from varied areas, together with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, the UAE, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and the US, comprise many of the worldwide college students in India.
Though Bachelor of Expertise and Bachelor of Engineering stay two of the preferred programs amongst worldwide college students in India, there’s a rising demand for applications like Bachelor of Enterprise Administration and Bachelor of Commerce.
“There’s a good distribution of scholars throughout numerous fields, together with Science (B.Sc), Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Arts (B.A), and Pc Functions (B.C.A). Whereas undergraduate applications dominate, M.B.A. (Grasp of Enterprise Administration) and M.Sc. (Grasp of Science) have a good illustration,” mentioned Kumar.
Whereas the variety of Indian college students overseas is predicted to succeed in between 1.5 million and a pair of million, UGC has spearheaded insurance policies geared toward internationalisation in India’s larger training sector.
Beneath UGC rules, Indian larger training establishments at the moment are directed to allocate as much as 25% supernumerary seats for worldwide college students, exceeding their whole sanctioned enrolment for undergraduate and postgraduate applications.
Furthermore, worldwide universities can now set up campuses in India underneath the UGC’s rules for overseas larger academic establishments.
A number of establishments from Australia, the UK, and the US have already arrange branches or are within the means of doing so, marking a major step in enhancing India’s world tutorial panorama.
With India aiming to draw 500,000 worldwide college students by 2047, it stays to be seen whether or not latest authorities initiatives will allow the nation to attain this formidable aim.
“A extra outstanding worldwide pupil presence in India may even assist strengthen our connections with universities and establishments worldwide, rising analysis collaborations, school alternate programmes, and data sharing,” said Kumar.
