SAARC students to get fee waiver in Indian varsities

In a major decision for the benefit of all SAARC students who are desirous of having studies in Indian university, the Universities Grants Commission, the apex Indian controlling body of higher education in India, decided to slash education fee for them in all Indian universities at par with that of Indian students with immediate effect, reports The Independent.
An Indian educationist opined that the decision would immensely benefit the aspiring students from Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. So long, these students had been paying higher fee compared to their Indian counterparts. Presently, in IITs, they had to pay USD 1000 (Rs 45,000) per semester in comparison to Indian student’s Rs 25,000.
The UGC secretary R K Chauhan told media persons in New Delhi today, “The UGC has approved a proposal for reducing fee for the students of SAARC countries”. They will pay the same amount as the Indian students are paying.” He said the decision of the UGC had been communicated to the nearly 480 universities and deemed universities for its immediate implementation.
Mention may be made that the proposal was originally mooted by Nepal which wanted reduction for its students in Indian universities. However, the UGC decided to extend the benefit to all the SAARC countries.
The step assumed significance as India remained the most preferred destination for the students of the SAARC countries.
 Currently, as many as 3, 471 SAARC students are studying in different Indian universities. Among the eight SAARC countries, Afghanistan sent 1,654 students, the highest number in 2008-09. The other major source countries were Nepal (238), Bangladesh (236), Sri Lanka (187) and Maldives (76). Students from these countries mostly pursued MBBS, BE/B. Tech, Business Management, Hotel Management and Languages.
Meanwhile, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) was also mulling over reduction of fee for foreign students too. Simultaneously, it was also considering creating extra seats for foreign students. An IIT director said, the number of foreign students was very less in the IITs and IIMs mainly because of the high fees.
 
Courtesy of The Independent