First-ever INDSAT Exam held under ‘Study in India’ Program

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has recently conducted the first-ever Indian Scholastic Assessment (IND-SAT) Test 2020 under its flagship ‘Study in India’ Program. Around 5000 students from countries such as Nepal, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zambia, Indonesia, and Mauritius appeared for the examination conducted in the protected internet mode by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

EdCIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Human Resources Development handled the registrations and other aspects of this examination.

What is IND-SAT?

The Indian Scholastic Assessment Test 2020 is an examination for grant of scholarships and admission to foreign students for studying in Indian universities under the ‘Study in India’ program of the government. The objective is to gauge the scholastic capability of the students applying to study in India. The scores obtained in the examination will serve as a criterion to shortlist the deserving students for the allocation of scholarships for undergraduate programs as well as post-graduate programs under the central government scheme.

Background

The Finance Minister had announced the introduction of this examination in the budget speech as meant for Asian AND African countries mainly. This examination was aimed at setting a benchmark for foreign students who want to study in India in various higher education centres.

The examination, conducted in 12 countries this year, will be extended to more countries from the next year onwards.

What is ‘Study in India’ Program?

It is a scheme of the HRD Ministry under which foreign students can come to our country to study in 116 select higher education institutions in India for under-graduate and post-graduate programs. The selection of the students is mainly based on their merit in the school-leaving examination and about 2000 top students are also given scholarship for this purpose.

In its first year of implementation in 2018, 780 students took admission in various colleges in India whereas, in the second year, more than 3000 students availed themselves of the scheme.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020