NEW DELHI: The government has decided to revise the criteria so that more higher education institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and academic quality can join the ‘Study in India’ programme. Higher education secretary Amit Khare also said there will be no distinction between private and public institutions in matters of supporting internationalisation.
The programme was launched with select 117 partner institutions in 2018. Admissions are merit-based and done through a common portal. Around 7,500 students from over 50 countries have come to Indian institutions so far under this programme.
The government also announced scholarships to international students in institutions with 3.26 NAAC grade or in the top 100 of NIRF rankings. However, according to ministry sources no scholarships were granted in 2018, and in 2019 of the 2,000 scholarships announced, 1,200 were granted, and in 2020 for the 2,500 scholarships announced, only around 900 applications were received. Institutions have written to the MoE to revise the parameters to 3.01 NAAC grade and NIRF 200.
Speaking to the TOI, Khare said: “We are giving scholarships in the top institutions academically. But students are also looking for some comfort and they may not be in the top institutions. So that is the relaxation that we have to make.”