Indian students, particularly Indian residents living abroad, are encouraged not to pursue higher education in Pakistan. In a joint statement issued on Friday, the higher education authorities University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Study (AICTE) declared that such applicants will no longer be eligible for employment or further education in India. This does not apply to migrants who have been awarded citizenship in India.
"All concerned are warned not to travel to Pakistan for the purpose of pursuing Higher Education," reads the public notification released on Friday. Any Indian native or Overseas Citizen of India who wishes to enroll in a Pakistani degree college or educational institution will be unable to seek employment or pursue higher education in India based on such educational qualifications (in any field) obtained in Pakistan."
"However, migrants and their children who have obtained a higher education degree in Pakistan and have been granted Indian citizenship would be entitled to seek a job in India after receiving Security Clearance from MHA," it continued.
The new warning comes less than a month after Indian students were advised against studying in China by regulatory officials.
According to Anil Sahasrabudhe, head of the AICTE, India students should be instructed as to which institutions and countries they should study in so that they do not end up with degrees that do not comply with Indian requirements.
"Parents and kids should not squander their hard-earned money on something that will not have parity in India." We've seen comparable occurrences in other nations, including Ukraine and China. That is one of the reasons for this recommendation," stated Sahasrabudhe.
On the topic of people granted Indian citizenship becoming eligible for work, Sahasrabudhe stated that education parity will be provided on a case-by-case basis, and some may be required to take specific examinations.
"These are remarkable situations in the face of adversity." As a result, the government will provide assistance. However, degree parity will be determined on a case-by-case basis, as not all degrees are equal and some may need to take additional tests. As is the situation with medical degrees obtained in nations such as Ukraine or China."
"UGC and AICTE publish such public announcements in the benefit of Indian students who choose to continue their further education outside the nation," said M Jagadesh Kumar, head of the UGC. We have witnessed how our students have struggled in the past because they were unable to return to their home countries to finish their education."
Apart from degree equivalence, the administration has identified other challenges, including internal security, according to a senior government source.
The warning against going to China for studies came after the Chinese authorities denied visas to Indian students who were already enrolled in Chinese colleges.