Both the application and the visa process are now much easier to obtain for international students staying in India after the government’s new study in the India Portal. 

With the collaboration of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, the country’s Ministry of Education has released an online platform centred around international students looking for higher education in India.

Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister of Education, said, “The SII Portal, a one-stop platform, will simplify a student’s academic journey in India.”

He also added, “Guided by the National Education Policy, the SII Portal reflects our commitment to make India a preferred education destination as well as to blur academic boundaries for shaping a prosperous future.”

Before this online platform, students who wanted to study in India used to apply separately to universities and institutions. However, after this platform has been launched, students are able to choose from 2,650 courses from over 240 higher education institutions to apply to freely. This will facilitate the process for them and make them receive all of the offers in one place. 

Regarding the visa process, this online platform is connected to the Indian visa system, which will facilitate the previously hard submission process. After applying, students will get an ID that is mandatory for the application. 

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, wants to re-establish India as an international hub of education for everyone. The online platform is hoping to do that. 

The government officials decided to launch the portal on August 3 at the Parliament House in New Delhi.

Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stated that the platform will not just help international students who want to study in India but will also help the country “establish a strong international footprint of brand India in the education sphere.”

Jaishankar said, “From an Indian perspective, there is no question that the presence of international students will be to the benefit of domestic ones.”

He added, “It will connect them more closely to a globalising world and prepare them better for the global workplace.”

During the speech, Jaishankar spoke from his own experience, using himself as an example when he was a student. He mentioned that having international students study next to him opened his eyes to new cultures and traditions. 

He stated, “When such students go back to their societies of origin, they truly become ambassadors for India.”

“The fact is that a more diverse and multicultural environment will stimulate innovation and creativity. It will enable us to both learn of challenges beyond our borders and encourage us to share experiences thereafter.”

Jaishankar also emphasised how attractive it is for students to study in India as international students, as “It can simultaneously offer international students value-for-money and a transformative education experience.”

The adviser at the Association of Indian Universities, Diya Dutt, stated that the online platform is “A great initiative to highlight the potential of India as an emerging education destination.”

Dutt added, “The website has relevant information that will make it easy for foreign students to plan their study in India.”

She also noted that the platform should include information about health and safety. She claims the importance of this because students will look after their health first while travelling. 

Dutt explained in an article for the Delhi edition of the Education Times that a new approach is being introduced, in which there will be a focus on destinations like the United States. 

“[India’s] ability to deliver good-quality education at a reasonable cost puts it in a unique position to become a destination country,” said Dutt.

She also mentioned that India is number two after China as a sending nation but is down to number 60 as a destination that hosts US students. 

She suggested some measures to be taken, such as creating more programmes that will increase the students’ interest in knowing more about India on US campuses. 

Such efforts, according to her, will “enable collaboration with American universities and help in the transfer of knowledge in the areas of skills development, training, and study abroad programmes for American students.”

She also encouraged more scholarships, which in turn would attract American students to come to India. 

Dutt stated, “Indian institutions should work out specific plans for recruitment, upgrade institutional infrastructure, develop campus-safety plans, and prepare a cadre of counsellors who can handle issues of the health and safety of foreign students.”

Alison Barrett said, “India offers fantastic opportunities and institutions for young people to study at, and the portal is a great initiative”.

“Greater mobility of students, academics, and researchers between nations contributes to better quality and more relevant education, research, and innovation,” she added.

She also remarked, “I have spent over 20 years living and working in India and have benefited in so many ways, both culturally and professionally. I am very keen for more young Brits to come and experience the modern India I have become so fond of.”