‘Study in India’ programme to attract foreign students to study in India
New Delhi, March 23, 2018: Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved ‘Study in India’ programme with, inter-alia, the following objectives
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Friday. the Minister of State (HRD), Dr. Satya Pal Singh stated that the proposed fee waivers to meritorious foreign students in this policy will be decided by the Institute concerned based on the following criteria:
100% waiver of tuition fees only for the top 25% students
50% waiver of tuition fees only for the next 25% students
25% waiver of tuition fees only for the next 25% students
No waiver of tuition fee for remaining 25% of students
The expenditure on the fee waiver will have to be borne by the Institute concerned, based on cross-subsidisation or through its existing funding. No additional cash flow from Government is proposed for the same.
The Government has approved an expenditure of Rs. 150 crores for the ‘Study in India’ programme for two years 2018-19 and 2019-20 which will be primarily for brand promotion activities. As the inflow of foreign students depends on various factors viz. individual will and choice, Visa issues etc., estimation about future inflow of foreign students is not possible, added the minister.
The ‘Study in India’ programme’s primary objective is to target foreign students by branding India as an attractive education destination. As per the existing Government framework, provision of 10-15% supernumerary seats for foreign students is there. ‘Study in India’ programme would target the foreign students to be admitted as per this provision, which would not have any adverse impact on the number of seats/ admission of Indian students.