NEW DELHI: Higher education regulators have advised Indian students, including Overseas Citizens of India, not to travel to Pakistan for higher studies. The University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in a joint notification on Friday said students pursuing higher education in Pakistan will not be eligible for employment or further studies in India thereafter. However, this will not be applicable to migrants who have been granted Indian citizenship.

A public notice issued on Friday stated, “All concerned are advised not to travel to Pakistan for pursuing higher education. Any Indian national/ Overseas Citizen of India who intends to take admission in any degree college/ educational institution of Pakistan shall not be eligible for seeking employment or higher studies in India on the basis of such educational qualifications (in any subject) acquired in Pakistan.”

It said, “However, migrants and their children who have acquired higher education degree in Pakistan and have been awarded citizenship by India would be eligible for seeking employment in India after obtaining Security Clearance from MHA.”

The latest advisory comes less than a month after the regulatory authorities warned Indian students against studying in China.

UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said: “UGC and AICTE issue such public notices in the interest of Indian students who would like to pursue their higher studies outside the country. In the recent past, we have seen how our students had to face difficulties because they could not go back to the foreign countries to continue their studies.” According to AICTE Chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe, Indian students need to be advised as to which institutions and countries they should travel for education so that they won’t land up with degree without parity with Indian regulations. “Parents and students should not waste their hard earned money in pursuing something which won’t have parity in India. We have seen similar cases with other countries as well, including Ukraine and China. That is one of the reasons for this advisory,” he said.

However, on the issue of those awarded citizenship by India becoming eligible for employment, Sahasrabudhe said that the education parity will be granted in a case-to-case basis and some may need to take some exams.

“These are exceptional cases for some difficult circumstances. Therefore, the government will extend support. However degree parity will be done on a case-to-case basis as all degrees may not be at par and some may need to take some exams. Like it happens in the case of medical degrees earned from countries like Ukraine or China,” he said.

However, apart from degree parity there are other issues identified by the government, including internal security, said a senior government source.

Advisory against travelling to China for education came in the wake of the Chinese government denying visas to Indian students already pursuing in Chinese universities after the pandemic.