Govt eases foreign students’ entry

The Centre has formulated a set of guidelines to help foreign students wanting to study in India. These pertain to visa, registration and verification, regulation of agencies bringing foreign students, banking facilities and limiting their entry only into recognised institutions to check duping.

India’s low-cost high-quality education is making it a sought-after destination for foreign students. The guidelines were framed to tighten loose ends, based on complaints by foreign students.

The guidelines have been approved by the prime minister and circulated to home, human resource development (HRD), finance and external affairs ministries. The guidelines are likely to be notified shortly and will be effective from the coming academic session.

To prevent duping of foreign students and to regulate entry of students, student visas will be issued strictly on the basis of list of recognised universities and educational boards prepared by HRD ministry. There are separate rules for those who attend special courses on arts and Indian culture. The visas would be commensurate with the duration of course.

Special officers will be deployed at all Indian missions to deal with foreign students so that their entry and exit visas are processed swiftly. MEA has been asked to relax visa norms for foreign students with permission for three entries per academic year.

Cases of research scholars will be cleared on priority. Indian missions have been asked to issue research visas except in cases of certain prior reference category (PRC) countries or where research work involves visits to certain regions or where the subject of research is sensitive. Vis-a-vis crime involving foreign students, the government will strictly monitor their attendance.

Universities and institutions have to provide feedback on a half-yearly basis. Regular absenteeism will be reported to the police. All foreign students have to be compulsorily registered within three months of arrival in India.