Government launches Study in India portal; to partner with top 100 colleges in NIRF ranking

NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with the Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar launched the Study in India (SII) portal in New Delhi today with an aim to increase the number of international students in Indian institutes.

The government said that it will partner with the top 100 institutes in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the Study in India (SII) programme. It will also collaborate with the institutes with those with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation score greater or equal to 3.01 and Institutes of National Importance (INI) to increase the number of international students in India and promote the country as a preferred study destination offering affordable and globally comparable quality education.

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The Study in India portal will provide comprehensive information about Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It will showcase a wide range of academic programmes, including undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and doctoral level programmes.

The portal will also host programmes related to the Indian Knowledge System such as yoga, ayurveda, and classical arts for the international students.

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Through the portal international students will be able to apply in more than one institute or programme of their choice. This will serve as a one-stop solution for student registration and visa applications. By simplifying the academic journey of international students in India, the Study in India Portal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a preferred destination for higher education worldwide, the official statement read.

The launch event was attended by Subhas Sarkar and Annpurna Devi, ministers of state for education; minister of state for education and external affairs, Rajkumar Singh; member of parliament, Mahesh Sharma; senior officials of the ministry of education and skill development, and ambassadors from more than 20 countries.

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Students from Russia, Thailand, Japan, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan and Republic of Korea currently studying in India, presented souvenirs from their culture to the dignitaries.

S Jaishankar highlighted the government's commitment to transform India into a global education hub by welcoming students from diverse backgrounds. Jaishankar also mentioned the impact of NEP 2020, which has led to the entry of foreign universities into India and the opening of international campuses of Indian institutions.