India raises scope for foreign students

India has thrown open 160 educational institutions of national importance to foreign students in the first-ever initiative of its kind offering 15,000 seats under the programme in the first round.

A 'Study in India' portal (www.studyinindia.gov.in) was launched here on Wednesday evening which will be a single window facility to cover all aspects relating to studying in India for foreign students.

With a budget of Rs 150 crore, the Study in India programme, similar to initiatives launched by Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, seeks to promote India as a preferred destination for pursuing higher education.

Hundreds of students from Bangladesh take admission in educational institutions across India every year either through scholarships given by Indian government or on self-financing basis.

At present, there are an estimated 5,000 students from Bangladesh who are studying in India.

Speaking on the occasion of launching the portal, Minister of State for Human Resources Development (HRD) Satyapal Singh said that for the first time, prominent Indian educational institutions have been opened up under the Study in India programme.