The land of varied cultures and traditions. The land whose very name evokes visions of snow capped peaks, gushing rivers and fertile plains. One of the many things that reflect India’s myriad moods are the parched deserts and palm fringed beaches, verdant fields and rugged mountain passes, cooling breezes and hot winds. India, also called Bharat or Hindustan, is the largest democracy in the world. India is the world’s second biggest country in terms of population, and seventh largest in area. India with her diversity of races, ethnic types, religions, linguistic groups and varied social structures is a repository of an amazing wealth of traditions.
The costs of higher education and living costs are very attractive as compared to those in developed countries like United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada. The quality of education is superior and therefore it makes India a preferred destination choice for Higher Education.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity. Nothing in the country is ever quite what you expect, and the only thing to expect is the unexpected. When you leave India you will either love it or hate it. You 'tip' in India not so much for good service but in order to get things done. Judicious baksheesh will open closed doors, find missing letters and perform other small miracles.
Contrary to popular belief, not all Hindus are officially vegetarians. Although you'll find vegetarians everywhere, strict vegetarianism is most prevalent in the south. Indians love the cinema and the Indian film industry, centred on Bombay, is one of the largest and most glamorous in the world. It's cheap operatic escapism, extremely harsh on the ears, and should not be missed.
Big cities are westernized and have lots of action and nightclubs, pubs, cinemas, restaurants are popular haunts of the youngsters. Small towns have very little to offer in terms of entertainment so make sure you make plenty of friends to have fun.
Local Information:
Population
India has a population of 950 million according to the 1997 statistic with 72% in the north, 25% in the south and 3% in the islands and elsewhere. The population density is about 232 people per square kilometer. The nations population is the second largest in the world. The estimated current population in India is 1 billion. Bombay (Mumbai) is the most populated city with urban population of 12.6 million, Calcutta ranks second having a population of 11.02 million.
Languages : India has about 18 major nationally recognized languages and some 844 different dialects. Hindi is the national language which is spoken by at least 45% of the population whereas English remains the main language used for commerce. The officially recognized languages are : Assamese, Hindi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Telugu, Nepali, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Konkani, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Oriya, Tamil, Sindhi and Manipuri. Capital : New Delhi Principal Cities : Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore,Hyderabad,Warangal Ahmedabad.
The main Universities are situated in Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Ahemedabad, Pune, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Lucknow and Bangalore,Hyderabad,Warangal.
Daily life India with its immense wealth of diverse religious cultures, communities and social groups is a treasure house of ritualistic lore and practices. Flowers, fasts, feasts, adornment, rites of passage, sacred scriptures, deeply felt environmental and social values are a part of experiencing India. Religion is interwined in every aspect of life.
Although the origins of the caste system are hazy, there are 4 castes in India : The Brahmins (Priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), Shudras (serfs/untouchables). Today, the caste system, although weakned, still weilds considerable power.
Government : India has adopted constitutional democracy. The Prime Minister of India is the Head of the Union(Federal) Government, as distinct from the President of India, who is the Head of the State.
The current Prime Minister of India is Shri Manmohan singh. He heads a coalition Government — the National Democratic Alliance — and belongs to the Indian National Congress (INC), the largest unit in the ruling alliance.
Climate : India is so vast that the climatic conditions in the far north have little in relation to the south. Climatic conditions range from torrid to the artic. India has a 3 season year - the hot, the wet & the cool. In the northern plains of India temperatures can reach 45°C in May. The rains start around 1 June in the extreme south and sweeping north to cover the entire country by early July. Time :
The local time in India is GMT +5:30 all year round. Telephone/E-mail :
Country code : 91 ; Outgoing international code : 00 ;
Even in the smallest places, there are private STD/ISD call booths with direct local, interstate and international dialing facilities.
There are bureaus where you can send or receive E-mails in major cities and now all smaller cities.
Post : Indian Post and postal services are generally excellent. Expected letters and letters you send almost invariably reach their destination, although they may take up to 3 weeks. A standard airmail letter(20g) costs Rs.11.
Currency : The Rupee (Rs) is divided into 100 paise. You are not allowed to bring Indian currency into or out of the country. Unlimited amounts of foreign currency or travelers cheques can be brought into India; but it is necessary to declare any amount over US$1,000 on arrival. The currency exchange rates as on March 6,2001 were :
1 Euro = 66.291 Indian rupees
1 US $ = 48.565 Indian Rupees
Cost of Living :
Cost of living
All major brands of travelers cheques are accepted in India. Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore and other big cities have ATM’s. Credit cards are accepted in major tourist centers, but do not expect to use a credit card everywhere.
General living expenses for a student per year is approximately US$1200 — US$1800. This includes personal expenses, lodging in students hostels and all other incidental costs.
A newspaper : approx.Rs.4.00 - A hotel room/per day : approx.Rs.700.00 A coca-cola : approx.Rs10.00 Mcdonalds Hamburger, fries & a drink : approx. Rs.95.00 A coffee : approx.Rs10.00 Movie Ticket : range from Rs.25.00 to Rs.50.00 Entry for a nightclub : approx.Rs.400.00 per couple A meal for two : approx.Rs.400.00 - Jeans : approx.Rs.800.00 Bus Ticket : depends on distance traveled. Minimum fare Rs.2.50 1 litre petrol : approx.Rs.50.00
Organization :
The country has now more than 300 Universities with about 12000 colleges affiliated to them. Universities and specialized institutions are the centers for higher education in India. Almost all universities in India are public or funded by the government. Indian universities are completely autonomous and the Government of India cannot interfere with their rules and regulations. Make sure that the university you choose is recognized.
Indian Education System : Under the Indian constitution, education is compulsory and free till the age of 14.
India has the unique characteristics of having the third largest system of higher education. Education is the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments. Language of Instruction in Indian institutions for higher education is English. Most universities require a candidate to offer a second language, along with English. This may be an Indian or a European language. Some universities may waive this requirement on condition that the degree to be awarded does not specify the class or division.
Indian education system follows the British system of education. Bachelors degree takes 3 to 5 years depending on specialization after higher secondary education (12 years of formal education)
Academic Calendar : Universities in India generally commence their academic session in June or July. Specifically, universities in southern and western states of India reopen in June and those in the northern and eastern states reopen in July.
Tution & Fees :
The tuition fees vary from university to university. As compared to developed western countries, education in India is relatively cheap. The tuition fees for a year range between US $500 to US $2,500 for Undergraduate studies. Graduate studies tuition and fees range from US$1500 to US$4000 per year.
Admission Requirements:
Admissions conditions for foreigners
Indian universities do not give a blanket recognition to the degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded by foreign universities or Boards of Education, but consider each case for admission on its individual merits. Also, there is no uniformity about the recognition of foreign examinations from university to university. Broadly speaking, the London Matriculation and the G.E.C. examinations are recognized as equivalent to the Matriculation examination of a recognized Indian University. The senior Cambridge Examination is generally considered equivalent to the Higher Secondary School certificate examination; though some universities equate it to the first year of the old intermediate course, and still others to their Matriculation exams only.
Undergraduate minimum qualifications : GCE "A" Level/any other examination equivalent to 10+2 of Indian Education system with minimum C grade except Natural sciences, commerce, economics, accountancy and management for which "pass" in the qualifying exam is required. Proficiency in English is required. Sought after Universities require a minimum grade higher than "C"
Postgraduate minimum qualifications : Graduation in the appropriate subject with 50% marks. Sought after Universities require grades higher than 50%
Visa Information:
All foreign nationals need a visa to enter India. Tourists wishing to visit India will normally be granted tourist visas for up to 6 months — cost $45.00.
Student visas can be obtained on furnishing proof of admission to recognized universities/institutions in India — cost $45.00 for visas valid up to 6 months; $75 for visas valid for 1 year; $82.00 for visas valid for more than 1 year. Letter of admission from the recognized educational institution with duration of the course is required in all cases.
Employment visas can also be obtained on furnishing proof of employment with companies in India — cost $82.00, multiple entry. An employment contract signed by both the parties must be submitted. Transit visas are valid for halts of up to 72 hours in India within 15 days from the date of issue of the visa and must be obtained before departure.
Visas can be obtained from any Indian consulate. Visas normally take up to a week to be delivered.
The land of varied cultures and traditions. The land whose very name evokes visions of snow capped peaks, gushing rivers and fertile plains. One of the many things that reflect India’s myriad moods are the parched deserts and palm fringed beaches, verdant fields and rugged mountain passes, cooling breezes and hot winds. India, also called Bharat or Hindustan, is the largest democracy in the world. India is the world’s second biggest country in terms of population, and seventh largest in area. India with her diversity of races, ethnic types, religions, linguistic groups and varied social structures is a repository of an amazing wealth of traditions.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity. Nothing in the country is ever quite what you expect, and the only thing to expect is the unexpected. When you leave India you will either love it or hate it. You 'tip' in India not so much for good service but in order to get things done. Judicious baksheesh will open closed doors, find missing letters and perform other small miracles.
India with its immense wealth of diverse religious cultures, communities and social groups is a treasure house of ritualistic lore and practices. Flowers, fasts, feasts, adornment, rites of passage, sacred scriptures, deeply felt environmental and social values are a part of experiencing India. Religion is interwined in every aspect of life.
All foreign nationals need a visa to enter India. Tourists wishing to visit India will normally be granted tourist visas for up to 6 months — cost $45.00.