Lok Sabha Question No. 184 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Issues faced by Indian Students Studying Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 184 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## Issues faced by Indian Students Studying Abroad

## *184. Shri N. K. Premachandran

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has addressed various issues of the Indian students studying abroad, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has established an effective system for monitoring the issues of Indian  students studying abroad and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government ensures that the concerned agencies who arrange for admission of Indian Students abroad fulfil all the assurances given to students/parents, if so, the details thereof;

- (d) whether the Government has received any complaints regarding the frauds committed by various agencies with respect to the study of Indian students abroad, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has attended to issues faced by the Indian students due to Ukraine conflict;

(f) if so, the details of action taken to protect the Indian students who have been studying in Ukraine; and

(g) the action taken to resolve the mental issues due to the harassment of Indian students abroad?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (g) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 184 for reply on 15.12.2023 regarding 'Issues faced by Indian Students Studying Abroad' asked by Shri N. K. Premachandran.

(a)   to   (g):   The   welfare   of   Indian   students   abroad   is   one   of   the   foremost   priorities   for   the Government of India. Indian Missions/ Posts abroad   arrange welcome ceremonies for students enrolled for studying in foreign universities, encouraging them to register with the Missions/ Posts. Wherever Indian students are enrolled in Universities abroad, the Missions keep in regular touch with them. Heads of Mission/Post and senior officials visit Universities and educational institutions for regular interactions with Indian students and student associations.

Indian Missions/ Posts abroad respond to any issues faced by Indian students on priority basis. Grievances are responded through various channels like calls, walk-ins, e-mails, social media, 24x7 Helplines, Open Houses, and MADAD portal. Any complaints received from the students abroad are taken up with the concerned universities/ educational institutions and the host government as the case may be, for requisite action. Our Missions and Posts remain vigilant and closely monitor the well being of students. In case there is any untoward incident, it is immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that the incident is properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished. During emergency or crisis situations, our Missions/Posts abroad proactively help distressed /stranded Indian students in terms of providing food, shelter, medicine and return passage to India. Most recently, Indian students were repatriated under various operations such as Vande Bharat Mission, Operation Ganga and Operation Ajay from countries around the world.

Seeking higher education overseas is mostly an individual decision made by Indian students, who often use services of private education consultancies. The Government is aware of some instances of fraudulent admissions in foreign universities through unscrupulous agencies, which are dealt with by the Ministry on case-to-case basis. Such cases are referred to the State Governments for strict legal action against such education agents. Missions/ Posts abroad issue regular advisories to warn students about fake Universities. Some Missions/Posts share the link of the list of genuine Universities on their website so that students may apply to these Universities only. Social media platforms are also utilized to sensitize the Indian students about the fake Universities.

Around   18,282   Indian   nationals,   predominantly   medical   students   were   repatriated   by   the Government   of   India   under   the   'Operation   Ganga'   in   the   wake   of   the   Ukraine   Conflict. Considering the challenges faced by Indian students repatriated from Ukraine in continuing their studies, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has devised a scheme with following provisions:

(i) Indian students who were in the last year of their undergraduate medicine course and have subsequently completed their studies and granted certificate of completion of course/degree on or before 30 June 2022, are permitted to appear in Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) Examination.

(ii) After qualifying the FMG examination, such foreign medical graduates are required to undergo Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for a period of two years enabling them for registration.

(iii) The NMC has conveyed No-objection to the Academic Mobility Program offered by Ukraine i.e.   temporary relocation (for the period of conflict) to other universities in different countries (except India). Under this relaxation, the FMGs returning from Ukraine are allowed to avail one time opportunity to complete their remaining medical course. The Degree may, however, be awarded by the University where they shall migrate.  On 22 November 2023, NMC extended the relaxation granted in such cases by 3 months.

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