New Delhi/Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced plans to simplify visa procedures for Indian students and expand English-taught academic programmes, as France looks to significantly increase student exchanges between the two countries.
Speaking at an event at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) during his India visit, Macron said France aims to welcome 30,000 Indian students annually by 2030, up from the current figure of around 10,000.
“We have decided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase the number to 30,000 per year by 2030. From the French side, we will simplify the sourcing and the visa process,” Macron said.
The French President emphasised that the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen academic and research collaboration between India and France. He also announced that more courses in French universities will be offered in English to make higher education more accessible to Indian students.
Macron assured prospective applicants that France would provide greater access to advanced research facilities and institutions that promote interdisciplinary collaboration across fields.
Highlighting the importance of educational partnerships, he said both countries are working to encourage student mobility in both directions, with more opportunities for Indian students to study in France and French students to pursue education and research in India.
The initiative is expected to deepen people-to-people ties and support cooperation in emerging sectors such as technology, healthcare, innovation and scientific research.
