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This is an archive article published on January 4, 2023

Why are more foreign students seeking admission in IITs

66 foreign nationals offered seats in IITs in 2022; in past five years, the number in category had not crossed 10.

IIT, JEE, foreign nationals in IITA total of 66 foreign nationals were offered seats in the IITs in 2022. (Representative image. File photo)
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The year 2022 saw a considerable jump in foreign national students in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), as per the latest Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced report.

A total of 66 foreign nationals were offered seats in the IITs in 2022. The number in this category had not crossed 10 in the past five years. Experts explained that this can be attributed to the change in definition of foreign nationals applying for professional courses in India. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), who were earlier treated on par with Indians for seats in government institutions, are now considered foreign nationals and are included in the category, as per a government order from March, 2021. Such students are allotted supernumerary seats with higher fees.

A professor from IIT Bombay said, “This increase in number is because of the change in definition of foreign nationals. These may be regular Indian students having passports of other countries due to various reasons. Earlier they were considered as Indians and would be offered seats from the regular pool of seats. But now they too are considered foreign nationals and are offered supernumerary seats created in IITs for foreign nationals.”

In the past five years, the previous foreign national category in the IITs had crossed 10 students. Combined with the OCI and PIO candidates, however, the number is in line with this year. In 2021, eight seats were offered to foreign nationals, whereas there were 62 OCI and 5 PIO candidates. In 2020, there were two foreign nationals and 62 OCI and 2 PIO candidates. There were zero foreign nationals, but 36 OCI and 4 PIO candidates in 2019.

Said the report, “Based on the Gazette Issued by Government of India on March 4, 2021, all OCI/PIO candidates are treated as foreign nationals for JEE (Advanced) and Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA) for seat allocation in IITs. Supernumerary seats were offered to foreign nationals subject to a maximum of 10 percent of the total seats in each program. A total of 66 supernumerary seats were created for foreign nationals this year in IITs.”

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

 

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