The move comes after the Ministry of External Affairs decided to verify the citizenship cards submitted by students from the Himalayan nation.
The MEA found that many Indian students had submitted fabricated documents while seeking admission to prominent universities under the foreign students’ quota as candidates from Nepal don’t require visa to study anywhere in India. With a visa-free regime existing between the two South Asian neighbours since 1950, people from each side frequently cross the 1,800-km open border.
Misusing the provision, quite a few Indian students who could not secure admission otherwise, obtained a fake Nepalese identity card and submitted it to the universities to study under the foreign students’ quota.
The Commission had issued a letter to its member universities in the first week of December to verify the authenticity of the documents produced by ‘Nepalese’ students.
“Using fake Nepalese citizenship cards, unscrupulous elements have been misusing the foreign students’ facility, which is meant for students from abroad, including Nepal,” said Ashok Mahajan, deputy secretary of the Commission.
The UGC has also sought the help of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to sort out the issue.
Besides, the universities have been directed to submit the copy of Nepal citizenship cards to the embassy before approving the admission.
Published 21 December 2010, 18:23 IST