News Analysis India

Tag: Indian students

  • Indian medical students desperate for return to China as visas not yet issued

    Express News Service

    Even as China has partially lifted a visa ban for Indians (which includes diplomats and those who have family in China) the one segment that is desperately waiting to get visas is the over 23,000 Indian students enrolled in universities across China.

    “It’s been two years since the ban and we haven’t been allowed to return to our University campus in China. Most of us are enrolled in medical schools there and we need to do our practicals offline. Many of us are now clinically depressed,’’ said a third-year student of medicine, Ankit.

    The students say that they have been in constant touch with the Chinese embassy in Delhi, but their queries don’t translate into anything and they do not have any firm answer on what lies ahead.

    However, China has permitted students from Pakistan, Thailand, Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka to return to the universities. This stand-offish attitude with Indian students is due to a diplomatic standoff that exists between India and China at present.

    External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, had communicated to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi when he had visited India earlier this year to facilitate Indian students who are stuck in India due to a lack of visas. No heed has been paid to that request yet. India too had in April cancelled tourist visas of China, citing the rising Covid chart for this move.

    However, tourists don’t get impacted by a visa ban, but students do as they have a lot at stake.

    “The Chinese embassy had sought a list of students willing to return to China to complete their degree, and even though most of us have given our names we have no clue on when it would be considered,’’ laments Ankit.

    Mental health issues have emerged among students who worry about not being able to repay student loans until they complete their study programme. Once completion of their degree, they have to clear Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) in order to intern in India and get a job.

    In India, there are students who have returned from Ukraine too whose fate is hanging in limbo. Combined with those who want to return to China, the problem has got compounded.

  • India to take Russia route to get back some students stuck in Ukraine: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Government has brought back 22,500 Indians and 147 foreign nationals from Ukraine and will use the Russia route for the evacuation of students who are still stuck in South Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

    In a statement on the situation in the war-hit country, the minister said the students had delayed their return from Ukraine as some universities discouraged them and “confusing political signals” were given there before the fighting started.

    Jaishankar defended the government’s stand on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, noting that India has called for an immediate cessation of violence and reiterated at the highest levels to all parties that there is no other choice but the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

    The minister said 22,500 Indian citizens and 147 foreign nationals of 18 countries, including Nepal and Bangladesh, have been evacuated from Ukraine.

    “There are some odd people, not in thousands, they are in double digits. We are tracking them. We have issued repeated advisories saying anybody who is left behind, please tell us wherever you are. At this moment we have an operation to get out some students who are stuck in the South (Ukraine) through the Russia route,” Jaishankar said.

    India prepared in advance of the actual conflict situation and started issuing advisories asking people to leave Ukraine, Jaishankar said, rebutting the Opposition’s charge of delayed action by the government.

    According to the minister, 20,000 Indian nationals registered with the Indian embassy in Ukraine after it started a registration drive. The minister said that 4,000 students left Ukraine through direct and indirect flights.

    In view of the continued build-up of tension, the Indian Embassy issued an advisory on February 15, 2022 advising Indian nationals in Ukraine whose stay is not essential to leave the country temporarily. It also advised Indian nationals not to travel to Ukraine or to undertake non-essential within Ukraine, the minister said.

    Further advisories were also given on February 20 and 22 pressing students to leave Ukraine. “Despite our efforts, however, a large majority of students elected to continue staying in Ukraine. We must understand the predicament in this regard. There was a natural reluctance to leave the educational institutions and affect the studies. Some universities actively discouraged and showed reluctance to offer online courses. Many of them received conflicting advice regarding safety,” Jaishankar said.

    He said that in the period leading to February 24, the political signals were confusing as well. “Public urgings not to be taken by alarmism and reports of force withdrawal created a confusing picture. The net result was that about 18,000 Indian nationals were caught in the midst of conflict when it started,” Jaishankar said.

    The minister said that students did what they thought is right under the circumstance. “The Sumy evacuation, which was the last one on a significant scale, was also extremely complex as our students faced the prospect of being caught in the crossfire. Their evacuation from the city needed a credible ceasefire, a daunting challenge in the current situation. This finally materialised due to the personal intervention of the Prime Minister himself with the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia,” the minister said.

    He said final year medical student of Kharkiv Medical University Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagaudar lost his life in the conflict zone and the government will bring back his mortal remains.

    The minister said that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has major economic implications and these can be seen in the rising prices of energy and commodities.

    “The Ukraine conflict has major economic implications. Its impact on energy and commodity prices is already visible. The disruption of the global supply chain is expected to be significant. India has substantial dealings with both Russia and Ukraine,” Jaishankar said.

    He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine on multiple occasions and took up the issue of safe evacuation of Indian nationals, especially from Kharkiv and Sumy.

    “The prime minister also spoke to the prime ministers of Romania, Slovak Republic and Hungary and the president of Poland to seek their support for facilitation of entry of Indian nationals to their countries. I most sincerely thank these partner nations for opening their doors and helping our citizens in our hour of need,” Jaishankar said.

    The minister said India has expressed deep concern about the worsening situation and called for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities.

    “Our statements at the Security Council and the General Assembly have urged an urgent ceasefire and ensuring safe passage for stranded civilians. We have reiterated at the highest levels of our leadership to all parties concerned that there is no other choice but the path of diplomacy and dialogue. We have emphasised to all member States of the UN that the global order is anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states,” the minister said.

  • Air India’s second flight carrying 250 Indian evacuees from Ukraine lands in Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Air India’s second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday, government officials said. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to them.

    India on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, with the first evacuation flight, AI1944, bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the evening.

    The second evacuation flight, AI1942, carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 2.45 am on Sunday, the officials said.

    Air India’s third evacuation flight, AI1940, which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest, is also scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday, they said. The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began.

    Therefore, the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

    Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights, the officials said.

    The government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights, they said. Air India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airport.

    “Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine,” the airline said.

    Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine.

    The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbers.

    “The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens,” it mentioned.

    The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimation.

    It said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation.

    “All those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient,” it said.

  • India looking at ways to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday was finalising contingency plans to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine after Russia launched a large-scale military attack on its neighbouring country even as the European Union reached out to New Delhi for its contribution to defuse the “grave situation”.

    With around 20,000 Indians stuck in Ukraine, the top brass of the government handling strategic affairs held a series of high-level meetings to put into operation certain contingency plans to assist the Indians.

    After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a “military operation” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, Russia launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine that attracted severe condemnation from the US and its allies.

    As the Ukrainian government declared a state emergency and closed the country’s airspace for civilian flights, the Indian embassy in Kyiv issued three separate advisories in the course of the day appealing to the Indians to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they are.

    The embassy said in view of the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals.

    However, it did not provide any clarity on evacuation arrangements.

    Separately, the Indian ambassador to Ukraine, Partha Satpathy, called on Indians to face the current situation with “calm and fortitude” as the situation is “highly tense and very uncertain”.

    The envoy said the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassy are working on a “mission mode” to find a “solution to this difficult situation”.

    In the midst of the Russian offensive, European Union’s High Representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the “grave situation” and how India could contribute to de-escalating the situation.

    “Received a call from EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF. Discussed the grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The 27-nation European Union has been playing a key role to defuse the crisis.

    In its latest advisory, the Indian embassy said the movement of people is now difficult in Ukraine as it is under martial law and those hearing air sirens and bomb warnings should find nearby bomb shelters.

    “We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, Google maps have a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros,” it said.

    “While the mission is identifying a possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times,” it said.

    The ambassador said the Indian embassy in Kyiv continues to remain open and operate.

    “I am reaching out to you from Kyiv. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack. The situation is highly tense and very uncertain and this of course is causing a lot of anxiety,” he said.

    “The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed. I would request everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude,” Satpathy said.

    He said the embassy has already reached out to the Indian diaspora in Ukraine and requested them to assist the Indians to the “best of their abilities”.

    “I urge you to please stay wherever you are, in your familiar locations. Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation,” he said.

    “Those who are stranded here in Kyiv, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kyiv, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there,” Satpathy said.

    Government sources said “contingency plans are being put into operation and that the immediate priority is to assist the Indians”.

    In one of its advisories, the Indian embassy said: “All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along with the western bordering countries.”

    It is learnt that the government is exploring the possibility of facilitating the movement of the stranded Indians to Polland from where they can be evacuated. However, there is no clarity on it.

    In a related development, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Igor Polikha said India has a “special” relationship with Russia and it can play a more proactive role in de-escalation of the situation. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among very few leaders who President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

    At the same time, he said Ukraine was “deeply dissatisfied” with India’s position on the crisis.

    India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.

    The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine.

    Following Putin’s announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an “invasion” could be the beginning of a “big war” in Europe.

  • Tiny European country Moldova vaccinates Indian students for free

    By Express News Service
    KOCHI: A small east European country, which has a low GDP, has managed to defeat Covid and vaccinate not only 60 per cent of its citizens but also around 1,000 Indian students, including the 760 medical students studying in its medical university.

    According to Manu Rajagopal, chairman and managing director, ISE Education Media India (p) Ltd, the country—  sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine — has never implemented a complete lockdown ever since the start of the pandemic.

    “The government implemented some amount of lockdown in phases. Some restrictions were put in place during the festive seasons of Christmas, Easter and New Year to prevent crowding in malls and restaurants,” he said. They could control the spread of Covid by stopping nightlife and declaring a medical emergency. The fight against Covid was led by the lone national medical university.

    “Besides the daily vaccination drive conducted by the government, the university held weekend non-stop vaccination marathon from Friday to Sunday for the people,” he said. Students from 36 countries, including America, Australia, European countries, Israel, Arab countries, China and India, are studying at the medical and veterinary universities in the country.  

    “A noteworthy fact is that all these students were vaccinated free of cost,” he added. From April 28, the Maldivian government had relaxed all major restrictions put in place as part of the Covid protocol. Former Kerala health minister K K Shailaja has been made the honorary visiting professor by the Health University of Moldova.

  • Vaccination is not mandatory for US-bound students: MEA

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday clarified that taking a WHO-approved vaccine is not mandatory for US-bound students to pursue higher education.

    “There is no uniformity in these requirements… the US government has clarified that vaccination is not a mandatory requirement for travelling to the US for Indian students. I also understand that there are multiple conversations between the students and our universities.

    We would obviously support our students. I think everyone concerned is interested in ensuring that the students are able to reach the universities and undertake regular classes and we hope that a constructive solution can be found,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

    Earlier this week, the US had assured that more visa appointments would be granted for Indian students after a rush for interview slots on Monday led to the embassy portal crashing. Reports had emerged that Indian students who had taken Covaxin or Sputnik V vaccines were being asked to revaccinate by universities as the two are not approved by the WHO yet. Bagchi said India is also monitoring the emergency use authorisation approval of Covaxin by the WHO.

    Meanwhile, India said it favours a discussion on vaccine passports and urged it to be linked with vaccine equity as many developing nations are yet to inoculate their citizens.

  • Facilitating legitimate travel a top priority: American diplomat on allowing Indian students to the US

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The US mission in India is “actively working” to accommodate as many student visa applicants as possible in July and August, and facilitating their legitimate travel remained a top priority for it, a senior American diplomat said on Sunday.

    Don Heflin, the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the US embassy, also said that the US-bound students will not require any proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the country.

    They will need a negative report of their COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to their departure.

    There has been growing anxiety among a sizeable number of Indian students aspiring to fly to the US for higher studies in view of certain restrictions in getting visa appointments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The embassy will start giving visa interview slots for Indian students from Monday.

    “We recognise the stress and anxiety this has caused to students and their families, and we are actively working to accommodate as many student visa applicants as possible in July and August.

    Facilitating legitimate student travel to the United States remains a top priority for the US Mission to India,” Heflin told PTI in an interview.

    The official was asked about the rising uncertainty among the Indian students wanting to travel to the US, which had imposed fresh travel restrictions in May.

    “Students returning to academic programmes that resume on or after August 1 may travel to the United States up to 30 days before the programme resumes.

    There is no National Interest Exception required in this situation,” he said.

    “We recommend continuing students discuss their specific resumption plans with their respective universities to develop a travel timeline,” Heflin said.

    The National Interest Exceptions (NIE) allow travel to the US for persons whose entry is considered of national interest.

    “We intend to start an intensive two months of interviewing student visa applicants on July 1.

    We will plan to open as many appointments as we can safely accommodate, based on local pandemic conditions across India,” Heflin said.

    “Student visa applicants do not need an expedited appointment to schedule their visa interview.

    On June 14, we will open July and August appointments for students,” he added.

    Asked about apprehensions relating to vaccination, the official said proof of vaccination is not required to enter the United States.

    “Please note that proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, taken within 72 hours of your flight’s departure, is required to board a flight and for entry into the United States.

    “While proof of vaccination is not required to enter the United States, individual schools or institutions may set their own requirements.

    The US education system operates independently from the federal government, and students should consult closely with their host institution to ensure compliance with individual vaccination requirements,” he added.

    Heflin said there are more than 4,500 accredited universities in the US that operate autonomously, and the policy adopted by one school for its students and teaching community may not be the same as that for another one.

    Asked if an exception will be considered for a parent who wishes to accompany a student headed to the US, the official said parents travelling to the country, in that case, will be classified as tourists.

    “Tourist travel remains prohibited pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10199,” he said.

    In view of surging COVID-19 infections in India, President Joe Biden authorised a travel ban for certain nonimmigrants from India under a Presidential Proclamation that came into effect on May 4.

    “Presidential Proclamation 10199 only applies to non-citizens who have been physically present in India within the 14 days preceding their application for entry to the United States.

    The US Embassy and US Consulates do not provide advice on specific travel planning,” the official said.

    He was asked if a student can fly to another country to apply for a US student visa, and stay quarantined there for 14 days before entering the US.

    “Please note that F and M-visa holders travelling from India will be able to enter the US within 30 days of a new programme start date or programme resumption date that is on or after August 1.

    This means that some students will be eligible to travel as early as July 2.

    No National Interest Exception is required in these cases,” he said.

    Heflin said student visa applicants with a cancelled appointment will need to make a new appointment and that new student visa appointments will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Asked if dependents of someone having a valid H1B visa are considered for NIE waiver, he said such people, who have definite plans to travel and can demonstrate their qualification for an NIE, may contact the embassy or consulate.

    He said nonimmigrant visa holders, including those having H1-B and who are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10199 based on their familial relationship to a US citizen or LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) spouse or unmarried minor child do not need an NIE.

    “Such travellers should bring proof of the qualifying relationship to present to airline officials when initiating travel to the United States,” he said.

    To a query on whether immediate family members of a US citizen can get an expedited visa if the US citizen is planning to travel soon, Heflin said expedited visa appointments are adjudicated based on the applicant’s purpose of travel.

    “Visa applicants with an urgent need to travel to the US, for example, for lifesaving medical treatment, may apply for an expedited visa appointment.

    .

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    “Applicants requesting an expedited appointment must also submit evidence that they are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10199 or may otherwise qualify for a national interest exception from these travel restrictions,” he said.

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