In a major step to attract students from the SAARC countries, Indian universities will now slash their fee to level them with the Indian students.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken a decision in this regard and asked the Central Universities, State Universities and Deemed
Universities to implement it immediately.
The decision will immensely benefit the aspiring students from Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
These students have been paying higher fee compared to their Indian counterparts. In IITs, they pay USD 1000 (Rs 45,000) per semester while Indian students are paying Rs. 25,000.
"The UGC has approved a proposal for reducing fee for the students of SAARC countries. They will pay the same amount as the Indian students are paying," UGC Secretary R K Chauhan told PTI.
He said the decision of the UGC has been communicated to the nearly 480 universities and deemed universities for its immediate implementation.
The proposal was originally mooted by Nepal which wanted reduction for its students in Indian universities. However, the UGC decided to extend the benefit to all the SAARC countries.