146% Rise in Applications for ‘Study in India’ Programme

The number of applicants and online exam takers for the Study in India (SII) scholarships increased by 145.6% and 651.9%, respectively, providing a huge boost to the initiative, which had been struggling to gain traction for the previous three years. The number of nations represented in the programme increased considerably as well, from 12 in 2020-21 to 136 in 2021-22.

The number of applications received this year surpassed 50,000, up from 20,659 in 2020. 72.8% of the 50,739 candidates took the online test on July 25, 2021, up from 23.8% last year.

Despite the government giving scholarships to international students to pursue higher education in Indian universities, the SII program, now called Pragatii (Performance Rating of Applicants through Global Aptitude Test for Indian Institutes), failed. There was no reaction the first year, and the second and third years were similarly lukewarm. Only 800 people applied for the 12,000 scholarships available in 2019, and only 1,200 for the 2,500 scholarships available the following year.

This year, though, there appears to be a change. The fact that only schools with a 3.26 NAAC grade and an NIRF rank of up to 100 were considered eligible for the programme was one of the main reasons for the low response, according to analysts.

Mr. Amit Khare, secretary (higher education), Ministry of Education stated “NIRF rating is the academic ranking. When a student comes to India, whether from Europe, the United States, or Africa, they are interested in not only the academic rating, but also the sort of living circumstances available, such as hostels and transportation. As a result, the adjustment we are making is a combination of academic ranking and student preference. We can’t expect students to come just to IITs or Indian Institutes of Science. It’s conceivable that some other universities offer greater amenities, making it more pleasant for a foreign student.”

“When a foreign student arrives, he or she must first see the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer), then go to a hospital for medical certifications, and then hunt for housing. Most other nations, on the other hand, have a separate foreign students office where everything is handled. As a result, in 2020-21, we will open foreign student offices at 164 universities,” Mr. Khare added.