23-Jul-2020: India holds the first ever INDSAT exam under ‘ Study in India' Programme
The Ministry of HRD conducted the first ever Indian Scholastic Assessment (Ind-SAT) Test 2020 under its 'Study in India’ programme yesterday. Nearly five thousand candidates from Nepal, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sri-Lanka, Kenya, Zambia, Indonesia and Mauritius appeared for the exam conducted in the proctored internet mode by the National Testing Agency. EdCIL (India) Limited, a PSU under MHRD and the implementing agency of SII handled the registrations and other aspects of the examination.
Ind-SAT is an exam for grant of scholarships and admissions to foreign students for studying in select Indian universities under the Study in India programme. The exam is designed to gauge the scholastic capability of students applying to study in India. The Ind-SAT scores will serve as a criterion to shortlist the meritorious students for the allocation of scholarships for under graduate as well as post graduate programmes under ‘Study in India’ programme.
The Finance Minister, as part of the budget speech this year, had announced that the Ind-SAT exam is proposed to be held in Asian and African countries, for benchmarking foreign candidates who receive scholarships for studying in Indian higher education centers. The exam was held in 12 countries on a pilot basis this year. There are plans to extend this to other countries in the future.
The Study in India is a programme of MHRD under which foreign students come to study in 116 select higher education institutions in India for under graduate and post graduate programmes. The selection of the students is based on their merit in the class 12 / school leaving exam. About top 2000 students are given scholarships, while some others are given fee discounts by the institutions. Around 780 students had taken admission under the programme during its first year - 2018-19. In the second year this number rose to about 3200.
18-Apr-2018: HRD Ministry launches 'Study in India' programme to attract foreign students.
Students across the world will now be able to pursue the education in prominent Indian Educational Institutions. Govt. has launched the Study in India programme of HRD Ministry by launching the ‘Study in India’ portal. The integration of e-SANAD portal and NAD – National Academic Depository (of HRD Ministry), was also launched by Smt. Sushma Swaraj on the occasion.
The "Study in India’ is an innovative initiative to attract students from our partner countries in South Asia, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa to come and experience the very best of academic learning from the top institutions in India. This will be achieved through systematic brand-building, identifying quality institutions for receiving the students, creating suitable infrastructure and facilitation structures. The "Study in India Portal” will become a single window to cover all aspects relating to studying in India for foreign students.
To begin with the focus is on students of 30 Asian, African, Middle East and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. India was the education hub of the world education with long heritage of Nalanda & Takshashila . Now, India is again surging ahead in education sector with more than 40,000 colleges & more than 800 universities. Top most colleges have been granted graded autonomy. Graded autonomy will help educational institutions to expand on their own; they can improve their programs, launch new programs as per the need. They can take in foreign faculty & foreign students. Because of the recent reforms in education sector, now India has become a prominent center for affordable and quality education.
With the integration of e-SANAD and NAD – National Academic Depository, the education system in India is now more transparent. For the first time, prominent Indian Educational Institutions have been opened up under this programme which will be of benefit not only to the foreign students but also to India.
The Study in India programme would provide one stop solution through the creation of a centralised portal studyinindia.gov.in. The website will be supported by an App and a Helpline number. The website will not only provide information on the latest offerings on Indian education but also facilitate admissions to the foreign students and help them make informed choices based on individual aptitudes and career goals. EdCIL (India) Limited, a Mini Ratna Category I CPSE is the implementing agency of the Ministry of HRD for the Study in India education campaign. NIRF ranked and NAAC accredited institutions with a 3.26 score have been included in the programme. The Study in India programme is a joint initiative of Ministry of HRD, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.