In a major initiative that will help thousands of Indian students in the Gulf, India plans to hold entrance examinations for IITs and IIMs in the region.
"The government is considering allowing Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to hold their entrance examinations in the Gulf region since a large number of students from the region take these exams," Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said on Tuesday.
On the issue of allowing IITs and IIMs to set up campuses overseas, Singh said in an interview that presently the institutions were not allowed to do so. He, however, added that in view of the large Indian community and the demand in the Gulf, the Ministry would consider making an exception for the region.
Asked about the results of his official visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Singh said he was optimistic about the growing ties, especially in the field of education.
The minister said that his trip to Saudi Arabia came in the wake of a path-breaking visit by the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to India in January, which had taken bilateral ties to a different level both in importance and depth.
"The Saudi King was keen that the ties should develop from India as is evident from the decision to send 500 Saudi students on scholarships to India," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"The Saudi King was keen that the ties should develop from India as is evident from the decision to send 500 Saudi students on scholarships to India," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The education agreement, which is expected to be signed soon, will open up various channels of cooperation, he said.