(A) whether the Government proposes to set apart 15% of seats in the country`s premier educational institutions for non-resident Indian aspirants on first-come-first -serve basis;
(b) if so, the details of the regulatory body empowered to operate the scheme;
(c) whether aspirants from SAARC countries are tikely to be given preferential weightage;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the criteria/condition likely to be imposed for admission in Indian Institutions?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI M.A.A. FATMI):
(a) to (e): 15% supernumerary seats have been created in all the university deptts.
exclusively for foreign students, and preference is given to persons of Indian origin
holding foreign passports. Five percent of these seats have been earmarked for the children
of Indian workers in the Gulf. The Statutory Councils such as the AICTE regulate these
admissions as per equivalence of foreign certificate as laid down by the Association of
Indian Universities (AIU). Foreign nationals from SAARC countries seeking admission through
Direct Admission of Students Abroad fDASA) scheme are allowed 50% fee waiver provided they
are studying in SAARC countries only. This scheme is implemented in selected centrally funded
institutions such as NITs, The DASA scheme is being implemented by the EdCIL, a Public
Sector Undertaking under this Ministry. The EdCIL is offering admissions under supernumerary
quota on a first-come-first-serve basis.