New Type of Visas

07.01.2025

New Type of Visas

Why in the news?                        

The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced two special category visas namely ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ visa for international students intending to pursue higher education in the country.

About New Type of Visas:

• The two new visas namely; ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Eligible international students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal can access the e-student visa facility, while dependents of e-student visa holders are eligible for the e-student-x visa.
• Eligibility: Foreign nationals admitted to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, or other formal programs at recognised educational institutions in India are eligible for e-student visas.
• These visas are issued for durations of up to five years, depending on the course length, and can be extended. Holders of valid e-student visas can enter India through any immigration check post.

What is the Study in India (SII) portal?

• It is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Education, hosting over 600 partner institutions offering more than 8,000 courses across disciplines such as engineering, management, agriculture, sciences, arts, humanities, law, paramedical sciences (including pharmacy and nursing), and specialised fields like Buddhist Studies and Yoga.
• Programmes are available at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and certification levels, providing flexibility for students to choose courses aligned with their interests at premier Indian institutions.
• The SII portal streamlines the admission process for foreign students seeking to enrol in long-term or short-term courses in the country.

                                                                          Source: Indian Express

Consider the following statements regarding ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa’:

1. It is introduced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

2. Under this initiative international students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal can access the e-student visa facility.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

Answer C