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India Targets 2 Lakh Foreign Students Annually by 2030 to Boost Global Education Hub Status

The Indian government has announced an ambitious goal to increase the annual intake of foreign students in higher education institutions to 200,000 by the year 2030. This represents a significant jump from the current figure of approximately 50,000 international students arriving each year. Officials are intensifying efforts under the 'Study in India' initiative, working with central and state universities to expand capacity and ensure robust infrastructure like hostels. The plan includes global stakeholder engagement and allows foreign universities setting up campuses in India to also admit international students.

Key Points: India Aims for 2 Lakh Foreign Students Yearly by 2030

  • Target of 200,000 foreign students yearly by 2030
  • Current annual intake is about 50,000
  • Intensified 'Study in India' global outreach
  • Expanding university capacity and hostel facilities
  • Foreign university campuses in India can also admit international students
2 min read

Centre aims to boost annual foreign student admissions to 2 lakh by 2030

India sets a bold target to attract 200,000 international students annually by 2030, enhancing outreach and university infrastructure under the 'Study in India' initiative.

"By 2030, we want to bring two lakh international students to India annually. - Education Ministry Official"

New Delhi, March 3

The Centre has set a target to increase the yearly intake of foreign students in Indian higher education institutions to two lakh by 2030, said officials at the Education Ministry on Tuesday, underscoring New Delhi's efforts to make India a more attractive destination for global learners.

At present, around 50,000 foreign students come to India annually.

An official said the government has intensified outreach under the 'Study in India' initiative and is working closely with universities and states to achieve the ambitious goal.

"By 2030, we want to bring two lakh international students to India annually. Right now, about 50,000 students come each year. We are making concerted efforts over the past six to seven months to accelerate this," the official said.

The official added that talks are ongoing with central and state universities - including Delhi University - to expand capacity and ensure adequate infrastructure, such as hostel facilities for incoming students.

"Hostel facilities and student support systems must be robust. We have also discussed this with states because these students will join state universities as well," the official said.

Foreign universities setting up campuses in India will also be allowed to admit international students, the official indicated.

The "Study in India" team is preparing to engage stakeholders in multiple countries as part of an outreach plan to attract more students.

The issue was also discussed during the recent Chief Secretaries' Conference in January, with states expected to play a key role since many of these students are likely to enrol in state universities in addition to central institutions.

The government, in December, informed the Rajya Sabha that there are currently 72,218 foreign students in India from nearly 200 countries.

Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar then said the Centre is taking various steps to deepen engagement with foreign universities and students.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who studied abroad, I think this is a great step. But the focus shouldn't just be on numbers. The quality of student life, safety, and a welcoming environment are just as crucial for attracting and retaining international students.
V
Vikram M
Ambitious target! From 50k to 2 lakh is a big jump. My main concern is about hostels and facilities. In many state universities, even local students struggle for decent accommodation. That needs to be fixed first, yaar.
P
Priya S
This will be great for cultural exchange and our global image. But I hope they also ensure that seats for Indian students in top colleges don't get reduced because of this push. A balance is needed.
R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but the execution is key. We need to market our strengths like IT, medicine, and traditional sciences like Ayurveda properly abroad. Also, simplifying the visa and admission process will help a lot.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I think we are putting the cart before the horse. Our primary focus should be on drastically improving the quality and employability of education for crores of Indian students. Once that is world-class, foreign students will come automatically.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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