A recent development in India’s higher education landscape involves the cessation of a scholarship program designed to attract international students. This decision follows the discontinuation of several similar initiatives aimed at domestic students, signaling a potential shift in the central government’s approach to funding educational support schemes.
The “Study In India” (SII) program, launched by the education ministry in 2018, was conceived as a mechanism to draw foreign students to premier Indian educational institutions. The program facilitated applications to a diverse array of courses across various academic disciplines. As part of the SII initiative, over 100 select Indian institutes allocated additional seats specifically for international students, indicating a concerted effort to enhance India’s appeal as a global education destination.
In 2020, the Indian Scholastic Assessment Test was introduced as a criterion for foreign students seeking scholarships under the SII program. The inaugural examination witnessed the participation of approximately 5,000 candidates hailing from nations such as Nepal, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zambia, Indonesia, and Mauritius. The following year, in 2021, the test was rebranded as PRAGATI, and the number of participating countries expanded significantly to 42. The upward trend in international student interest continued into 2022, with candidates from an impressive 83 countries taking the examination.
According to a former official associated with the Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL), the scholarship scheme was gaining considerable traction and proving effective in attracting foreign students to India. The official expressed concern that the government’s decision to discontinue the scholarship would negatively impact the mobility of international students to Indian institutions, as the financial assistance provided under the scheme served as a significant incentive for prospective students.
Official documentation reveals that the financial resources underpinning the SII scholarship were sourced through the Champion Service Sector Scheme (CSSS) of the commerce ministry. However, the CSSS was discontinued during the fiscal year 2022-23, which appears to be the primary reason for the cessation of the SII scholarship for foreign students.
This discontinuation aligns with a broader trend of winding up several scholarship programs recently. Notable examples include the National Talent Search Examination for school students, a long-standing initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing talented young individuals. Additionally, the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, which provided crucial financial support to minority students pursuing research, has also been discontinued. Other affected schemes include the National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education and the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana, both designed to promote educational participation and scientific aptitude among specific demographics.
The phasing out of these various scholarship programs, including the one specifically for foreign students under the SII initiative, raises questions about the future direction of educational funding and the government’s priorities in supporting both domestic and international students. While the rationale behind these decisions may stem from budgetary constraints or a reassessment of existing schemes, the impact on student mobility and access to higher education, particularly for those relying on financial assistance, warrants careful consideration. The discontinuation of the SII scholarship, in particular, may affect India’s standing as a preferred destination for international students seeking quality education.
