Indian educational system has been in transition in the recent past. India has the world’s second largest post-secondary student population of over 11 million. It is expected that this number will double over the next 12 to 15 years. Faced with a growing demand for post secondary education and limited resources, India is looking to the private sector and foreign universities to bridge this expected shortage. The private sector has been given the opportunity to take initiative in developing infrastructure for higher education in the country. India is a member of the WTO and has now become a signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thereby enabling high quality educational services to be offered in India from around the world. Further, the Indian economy is transforming into an international powerhouse requiring India to have the best possible educational opportunities for its citizens. Indian students are interested in degrees, diplomas,

and certificates offered by American and Canadian universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels because of the excellent career prospects they offer. This demand is reflected by the tens of thousands of students going to the USA / Canada every year for higher education.

SPRING 2008 TOUR :
The Foundation offers an efficient and cost-effective means of presenting the American and Canadian universities and colleges to Indian institutions and to prospective Indian students through the Spring 2008 tour. Activities on the tour include briefings, educational and recruiting events in different cities, visits to schools and colleges, and interview sessions with principals, managements, students, and parents. The tour will be a fast-paced, hard working program, which provides representatives with valuable exposure and brings visibility to their institutions. The tour will take the participants to some of the major educational cities of the sub-continent. Good beginnings in terms of educational collaborations will be made along with substantial recruiting results.

DEGREE AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS :
Academic collaboration is possible with Indian institutions in several fields of study.

Please visit http://www.indus.org/fields-of-study-edu.htm to see a list of some of the major fields of study for collaborative degree and diploma programs, twinning / transfer programs, certificate programs, distance education programs, study abroad programs, and partnership programs.

The programs to be offered in India by American / Canadian universities in collaboration with Indian institutions would be undergraduate and graduate degree and diploma programs. The duration of undergraduate degree programs would be four years while graduate degree programs would be two years. The duration of diploma programs would be one or more years. Students will receive American / Canadian degrees and diplomas after successful completion of the programs in India. American / Canadian universities and Indian institutions will administer the degree and diploma programs jointly. Indian institutions collaborating will have world-class facilities such as modern classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, audiovisual centers, computerized libraries, video conferencing halls, software development centers, and administrative blocks. Following are some of the benefits for American and Canadian universities:

1. Extending the international reach of their degree and diploma programs.
2. Establishing long-term visibility and presence in major cities of India.
3. International exposure to their faculty and opportunity for faculty exchange.
4. Opportunity for research and teaching expertise to be taken to India.
5. Opportunity for their students to study abroad and experience India’s rich culture.
6. Attracting a continuing stream of students to their universities from India.
7. Opportunity for developing consulting projects with Indian organizations.
8. Faculty travel, boarding, lodging, and honoraria paid for by Indian institutions.
9. Sharing the tuition revenues of collaborating Indian institutions.
10. Opportunity to participate in the periodic tours of India for recruiting students.

Further details of degree and diploma programs may please be found at http://www.indus.org/digree-diploma.htm

TWINNING / TRANSFER PROGRAMS :
Twinning / Transfer programs allow Indian institutions to offer undergraduate and graduate programs which will have their regular curricula. The existing curricula may be supplemented by additional curricula of American / Canadian universities if required by Indian institutions. Through twinning / transfer programs, Indian students will be able to earn several credits during the course of their normal study in Indian institutions. Students will have the opportunity either to complete their studies in India or to transfer their credits to American / Canadian universities at any time after completing at least one year of their studies in Indian institutions. Students who opt for transfer, can then finish their degree or diploma programs by completing the remainder of credits in residence at American / Canadian universities.

Twinning / Transfer programs are "win-win" situations for all concerned parties. American / Canadian universities will receive well-prepared students who have been instructed entirely in English and are ready to begin their major sequences. Indian institutions are strengthened by access to the latest in American / Canadian curricular developments. Foreign-bound Indian students save substantial cost of studying abroad. Further, students will have wide range of subjects to choose from in American / Canadian universities, apart from the opportunity to learn in two different cultural environments, and thus becoming well-rounded professionals. Following are some of the benefits for American and Canadian universities:

1. Attracting a continuing stream of students to their universities from India.
2. Establishing long-term visibility and presence in major cities of India.
3. International exposure to their faculty and opportunity for faculty exchange.
4. Opportunity for research and teaching expertise to be taken to India.
5. Opportunity for their students to study abroad and experience India’s rich culture.
6. Faculty travel, boarding, lodging, and honoraria paid for by Indian institutions.
7. Opportunity for developing consulting projects with Indian organizations.
8. Opportunity to participate in the periodic tours of India for recruiting students.

Further details of twinning / transfer programs may please be found at http://www.indus.org/twinning-transfer.htm

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS :
There has been a remarkable growth in the numbers and kinds of certificate programs that are sought by students and others throughout India. Certificate programs include corporate training programs, executive development programs, and management development programs. Certificate programs that consist of both for-credit and not-for-credit courses, are of interest. For some students, however, for-credit courses whose credits carry over to degree and diploma programs in American / Canadian universities, are of greater interest. Undergraduate and Graduate certificate programs are sought after in virtually every discipline, including in business, education, health sciences, information technology, humanities, and the arts. Certificate programs are of interest because of their short duration. Some of the Indian students who take up the certificate programs offered by American / Canadian universities in India may be interested in transferring to those universities and complete the remainder of credits in residence for earning a degree or diploma.

Certificate programs usually comprise of five or six courses and students earn a maximum of 18 to 24 credits. Certificate programs may be of two-semester duration (one year), though a few select programs of one semester duration may also be offered. Undergraduate and graduate certificate programs of accredited American / Canadian universities may be offered in their entirety through Indian institutions. In addition to their existing certificate programs, American / Canadian universities may suitably tailor their undergraduate and graduate degree / diploma programs and offer them as certificate programs in India. Students completing the certificate programs in Indian institutions will be given certificates by the concerned American / Canadian universities. Following are some of the benefits for American and Canadian universities:

1. Extending the international reach of their programs.
2. Establishing long-term visibility and presence in major cities of India.
3. International exposure to their faculty and opportunity for faculty exchange.
4. Opportunity for research and teaching expertise to be taken to India.
5. Opportunity for their students to study abroad and experience India’s rich culture.
6. Attracting a continuing stream of students to their universities from India.
7. Opportunity for developing consulting projects with Indian organizations.
8. Faculty travel, boarding, lodging, and honoraria paid for by Indian institutions.
9. Sharing the tuition revenues of Indian institutions.
10. Opportunity to participate in the periodic tours of India for recruiting students.

For further details of certificate programs, please visit http://www.indus.org/certificate-pro-edu.htm

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS :
Distance education is an emerging global phenomenon that promises to alter fundamentally the nature of traditional education and training. The increasingly pervasive nature of the Net and the Web, and the collaborative infrastructure provided by net-centric computing have led to the growth of distance education. The phenomenal growth of distance education is explained by the fact that over 90% of college students access the Internet, with 50% accessing the Web daily. Also, companies and organizations are spending huge amounts on in-house training and education programs through distance mode. The popularity of distance education programs has further increased with the availability of on-line discussion forums. Now even the most geographically remote students can get the education they want.

The distance education programs to be offered in India by American / Canadian universities in collaboration with the Indus Foundation would be undergraduate and graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs. Students will receive American / Canadian degrees, diplomas, and certificates after successful completion of the programs in India. American / Canadian universities and the Foundation will administer the programs jointly.

Benefits for Indian Students :
* Prestigious American / Canadian degree, diploma, and certificate programs offered in India. Students will have access to a wide range of undergraduate (Bachelor's) and graduate (Master's and Doctoral) programs.

* Tuition and fees will be in tune with the low cost of living in India. Students get valuable American / Canadin degrees, diplomas, and certificates at low cost.

* Students will not incur expenses towards room and board as they would be studying from home.

* Students get first-hand knowledge of latest global developments, trends and techniques.

* Students will have better opportunities for employment and international careers by having a degree, diploma or certificate from an American / Canadian university.

* Students will have better opportunities for further education in American / Canadian universities when they are equipped with a degree, diploma, or certificate from an American / Canadian university.

* Students will have the opportunity to transfer with credits to American / Canadian universities.

* Students will be able to pursue distance education programs at a pace convenient to them.

Benefits for American / Canadian Universities :
1. Extending the international reach of their degree, diploma, and certificate programs.
2. Establishing long-term visibility and presence in India.
3. Promotion and marketing of their programs will be done by the Foundation.
4. Sharing the tuition revenues of the Indus Foundation.

For further details of distance education programs, please visit http://www.indus.org/distence-edu-programs.htm

STUDY ABROAD IN INDIA PROGRAMS :
The mission of the Indus Foundation is to provide students of American / Canadian universities with high-quality academic study abroad programs that foster intercultural development. Our vision for the future is a world filled with interculturally competent leaders who have both the understanding and skills to effectively, humanely, and positively navigate across different cultures, in politics, education, and business.

Students of American / Canadian universities are welcome to India where history, culture, color, cuisine and nature exhibit more diversity than nearly anywhere else in the world. Studying abroad in India for a semester or year will give students a fresh perspective on themselves, India, USA / Canada, and the world. By living in a foreign country such as India, students will constantly challenge themselves in many new and exciting ways and gain a level of independence they never knew they had. Studying abroad in India will expose them to diverse people and viewpoints, and they will get to experience a different way of life apart from their own in the USA / Canada. They will be immersed in the language, culture, and people of the host country and will get to experience life as residents, not as mere tourists. While studying in India, they will also earn credit towards their current degree. The Foundation will arrange study abroad programs at undergraduate and graduate levels in high quality Indian institutions, which have facilities of international standards. Students of American / Canadian universities will get the most memorable study abroad experience possible.

For further details on study abroad in India programs, please visit http://www.indus.org/study-abord-programs.htm

STUDY TOUR OF INDIA PROGRAMS :
Welcome to India. A country where history, culture, colors, cuisine and nature exhibit more diversity than nearly anywhere else in the world. A country of amazing paradoxes, where bullock carts and jets co-exist in
perfect harmony. Modern India is a shining example of robust economic growth in a democratic setting. Study tour of India will give students a fresh perspective on themselves, India, and the world. By visiting a foreign country such as India, students will constantly challenge themselves in many new and exciting ways and gain a level of independence they never knew they had. Study tour will expose them to diverse people and viewpoints, and they will get to experience a different way of life apart from their own in the USA or Canada. They will be immersed in the language, culture, and people of the host country.

The Indus Foundation is prepared to partner with American and Canadian colleges and universities in the creation of custom designed international study tour programs that promote global awareness and understanding. The Foundation’s goal is to support administrators and faculty in the complex task of developing, operating, and managing faculty-led study tours of India. The Foundation provides colleges and universities with comprehensive program management that includes: program development assistance, tour itinerary, logistical arrangements, transportation in India, academic coordination in India, and on-site management in India. A representative of the Foundation will accompany the group and faculty.

For further details on study tour of India programs, please visit http://www.indus.org/study-tour-india-programs.htm

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS :
The Foundation will arrange partnerships between English-medium Indian institutions and accredited American / Canadian universities, so that Indian students who complete 12th standard may be admitted as freshmen in undergraduate programs of American / Canadian universities. Partnership programs with Indian institutions are important mechanisms that enhance access to undergraduate programs of American and Canadian universities. These programs support educational mobility and facilitate seamless acceptance of academic credit of Indian students from 12th standard. These programs enable Indian students to transition smoothly to American and Canadian educational systems and help in students’ course selection, eliminate curriculum redundancies, streamline the application review process, and promote understanding among educators across India, the USA and Canada.

These programs provide a measure of certainty to students in Indian institutions that they will be accepted in accredited American / Canadian universities. Students will be spared the stress of having to prepare for the highly competitive entrance examinations in India for institutes of technology, medical colleges, etc., with the knowledge that their admission in good accredited American / Canadian universities is assured. Further, students will have the option to change their field of study when they enter American / Canadian universities. TOEFL and SAT will be required for admission to American / Canadian universities. Through partnership programs, American / Canadian universities will be able to establish long-term visibility and presence in India apart from attracting continuing stream of Indian students.

For further details on partnership programs, please visit http://www.indus.org/partnership_prog.htm

STUDENT RECRUITMENT :
With the globalization of the economy in India and the growing affluence of the large middle class, study in America and Canada has become a very viable option for several Indian students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. A number of well qualified and financially able Indian students are interested in opportunities for higher education in America and Canada. The Indus Foundation is committed to helping accredited American and Canadian universities to recruit well-qualified and financially able students from India. Its staff is in a unique position to offer current and relevant advice to Indian students on the one hand and to American / Canadian university administrators on the other. During the past 10 years, the Foundation has emerged as the leading recruiter of students from India. It has secured admission for several thousand students in accredited American and Canadian universities. Many of these students have also been given scholarships and financial aid by the American and Canadian universities. Following are some of the benefits for American and Canadian universities:

* Generation of income and saving of money on recruiting activities.
* Expanding the marketplace for enrolling better-qualified students.
* Establishment of long-term visibility and presence in India.
* Substantial reduction of time and costs for recruiting Indian students.
* Recruitment of financially able and better-prepared students.
* Enrollment of larger proportion of admitted students for different programs.

For further details on recruitment of students, please visit http://www.indus.org/study-recrument.htm

SPRING 2008 TOUR ITINERARY

Arrive New Delhi: April 14 Afternoon / Evening
Depart New Delhi: April 15 (Jet Lite 241 at 0925 hrs.)
NEW DELHI: April 14
Ashok Country Resort, Kapashera, New Delhi

Arrive Hyderabad: April 15 at 1125 hrs.
Educational and Recruiting Event: April 16 (1000 hrs. to 1700 hrs.)
Depart Hyderabad: April 17 ( Paramount 17502 at 0945 hrs.)
HYDERABAD: April 15-16
Katriya Towers, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad

Arrive Visakhapatnam: April 17 at 1045 hrs.
Educational and Recruiting Event: April 17 (1300 hrs. to 1900 hrs.)
Depart Visakhapatnam: April 18 (Air Deccan 632 at 0835 hrs.)
Depart Hyderabad: April 18 ( Air Deccan 403 at 1310 hrs.)
VISAKHAPATNAM: April 17
Fortune Inn Sree Kanya, Visakhapatnam

Arrive Vijayawada: April 18 at 1405 hrs.
Educational and Recruiting Event: April 19 (1000 hrs. to 1600 hrs.)
Depart Vijayawada: April 20 ( Air Deccan 212at 1400 hrs.)
VIJAYAWADA: April 18-19
D.V.Manor Hotel, Vijayawada

Arrive Bangalore: April 20 at 1540 hrs.
Educational and Recruiting Event: April 21 (1000 hrs to 1600 hrs.)
Depart Bangalore: April 22 ( Air Deccan 763  at 0545 hrs.)
Depart Mumbai: April 22 (Air Deccan 303 at 0915 hrs)
BANGALORE: April 20-21
Churchill Hotel, Seshadri Road, Bangalore

Arrive Kolhapur: April 22 at 1020 hrs.
Visit Textile & Engineering Institute: 1300 hrs.
Educational and Recruiting Event: April 22 (1430 hrs to 2000 hrs.)
Depart Kolhapur: April 23 ( Air Deccan 304 at 1040 hrs)
Depart Mumbai: April 23 ( Go Air 106 at 1710 hrs.)
KOLHAPUR: April 22
Victor Palace Hotel, Kolhapur
 
Arrive New Delhi Domestic Airport: April 23 at 1915 hrs.
Depart New Delhi International Airport: April 24th early hours.

COVERAGE OF THE TOUR :
The educational and recruiting event in each city will be organized in an air-conditioned hall which is well known and easily accessible to principals, managements, students and parents. The publicity and promotional campaign in each city will be aimed at attracting the principals and managements of schools and colleges, apart from around 200 students and parents. The event will have one-on-one meetings between the representatives of the Foundation, American and Canadian universities / colleges and the principals, managements, students, and parents. Each of these one-on-one meetings last for about 5 to 10 minutes and the proceedings close in about five to six hours. Visits to schools and colleges will be arranged in cities depending on the exigencies of time. The tour covers the following:

• Educational and recruiting events in various cities in the Indian sub-continent.
• One-on-one meetings with principals and managements of Indian institutions
• One-on-one meetings with students and parents in various cities.
• Visits to Indian educational institutions, time permitting.
• Advance publicity in the Indian sub-continent through the media.
• Press releases during the promotional build-up of the tour.
• Distribution of promotional materials of participating institutions.
• An experienced tour leader for guiding the participants.
• Air travel within the Indian sub-continent.
• Single room accommodations at first class hotels (lodging only).
• Visa Assistance and government approvals.
• Ground transportation in the sub-continent.
• The tour does not cover food (approx. $ 30 per day per person).

Selection of Participants :
Each educational tour is expected to have more applicants for participation than it can accommodate. The Foundation welcomes participation by experienced professionals. Participation is limited to accredited Colleges and Universities, though others connected with education may participate with the prior approval of the Foundation. The Foundation reserves the right to select participants of the tour.

Registration :
Registration forms are available from The Indus Foundation. Please contact the Foundation through email at indus@indus.org or by phone at (732) 205-9810 or by fax at (732) 205-9811. Participants are advised to register early because of the small size of the tour. The size of the tour will be limited to 10 participants.

A Few Earlier Participants of Tours :
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK
Dr. Russel Bruhn, Associate Dean, College of Engineering and IT, Ph: 501-683-7117

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, NEW PALTZ
Mr. Bruce Sillner, Dean, International Programs, Ph: 845-257-3125

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Dr. Murali Venugopalan, Director for International Studies, Ph: 309-296-2501

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
Mr. Mark Schroeder, Coordinator for International Admission, Ph: 419-530-1213

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Karl Schmidt, Director of International Affairs, Ph: 605-688-4913

MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY, KY
Mr. James Vaughan, Dean of Admissions, Ph: 270-762-3741

OHIO UNIVERSITY, OH
Dr. Usha Matta, Project Manager, Graduate Studies, Ph: 740-593-0419

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY – GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Mr. Glenn Berman, Director of Admissions, Ph: 973-353-1234 x 14

NAZARETH COLLEGE OF ROCHESTER, NY
Dr. George Eisen, Executive Director for International Education &
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Ph: 585-389-2371

MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY, KY
Dr. Robert Frank, Associate Dean of International Education, Ph: 606-783-9369

Visa Requirement :
Visas are required for all foreign citizens to enter into India. The details of the visa fees, visa application forms, etc. can be found at the websites of the concerned Indian embassy or consulate.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS :
The Spring 2008 tour is meant for bringing about educational collaborations and recruiting of students for admission to Fall 2008, and subsequent terms. The Foundation will facilitate educational collaborations and work as a consultant until the collaborations fructify. Subsequently, the Foundation will work towards supporting and sustaining the collaborations. The Foundation will work towards recruiting and enrolling as many students as possible on a continuing basis. The Foundation reserves the right to alter the itinerary depending on law and order situation, and other factors. The Indus Foundation undertakes full responsibility for facilitating educational collaborations and in the recruitment of students by the participating institutions. All correspondence from and with the Indian institutions and Indian students will be channeled through the Foundation.

HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN INDIA :
Higher Education in India has evolved in distinct and divergent streams with each stream monitored by an apex body, indirectly controlled by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The state governments mostly fund the universities. However, there are 20 important universities called Central universities, which are maintained by the Union Government and because of relatively large funding, they have an edge over the others. The engineering and business schools are monitored and accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) while medical education is monitored and accredited by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Like-wise, the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) monitors agriculture education and research. Apart from these, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) controls all teacher-training institutions in the country.

As of now, there are 344 Universities including 20 Central Universities, 211 State Universities, 95 Deemed Universities and 5 institutions established under State Legislation and 13 Institutes of National Importance. There are over 17,625 colleges affiliated to various universities in India. An estimated 11 million students are enrolled in institutions of higher education in India.

The higher education system is principally divided into three levels, namely :
* Undergraduate or Bachelor’s Level (e.g. B.Sc., B.A., B.E., M.B.B.S., LL.B., etc.)
* Graduate or Master’s Level (e.g. M.Sc., M.A., M.Tech., M.S., LL.M., etc.)
* Doctoral (Ph.D.)

Bachelor’s degrees in science, arts, and commerce take three years of study but in vocational subjects like pharmacy, dentistry, architecture, medicine, engineering, and technology the duration may vary between four to five and a half years. Many universities and colleges offer ‘honors’ courses at undergraduate level, which may not be longer in duration but indicate greater depth of study. Diploma courses are also available at the undergraduate level and the duration of their study may vary from one to three years.

Master’s degree is normally of two-year duration. Admission to graduate programs in engineering and technology is done on the basis of a test called GATE. Diploma programs are also available at the Master’s level and the duration of their study may vary from one to two years.

Indian students interested in pursuing further studies may either directly register for Ph.D. or do a pre-doctoral program called Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) which is either completely research based or may also include some course work. It takes lesser time to complete Ph.D. for those who have already done M.Phil.

Accreditation
Accreditation for universities in India are required by law unless it was created through an act of Parliament. Without accreditation, the government notes "these fake institutions have no legal entity to call themselves as University/Vishwvidyalaya and to award ‘degree’ which are not treated as valid for academic/employment purposes." The University Grants Commission Act 1956 explains,

"the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, or a State Act, or an Institution deemed to be University or an institution specially empowered by an Act of the Parliament to confer or grant degrees. Thus, any institution which has not been created by an enactment of Parliament or a State Legislature or has not been granted the status of a Deemed to be University, is not entitled to award a degree."

Accreditation for higher learning is overseen by autonomous institutions established by the University Grants Commission:

* All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
* Distance Education Council (DEC)
* Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
* Bar Council of India (BCI)
* National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
* National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
* Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
* Medical Council of India (MCI)
* Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
* Indian Nursing Council (INC)
* Dental Council of India (DCI)
* Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH)
* Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM)
* Veterinary Council of India (VCI)

Criticism of Indian Education System :
Modern education in India is often criticized for being based on rote learning. Emphasis is laid on passing examinations with high percentage. Very few institutes give importance to developing personality and creativity among students. Recently, the country has seen a rise in instances of student suicides due to low marks and failures, especially in metropolitan cities, even though such cases are very rare.

The presence of a number of education boards (SSLC, ICSE, CBSE, IB,IGCSE ) leads to non-uniformity. ICSE and CBSE boards, are sometimes favorably considered at the time of admission, although it cannot be said with certainty that their syllabuses are harder. A large number of SSLC (State board) students therefore complain that their ICSE and CBSE counterparts are given an advantage during college admissions, which are extremely competitive and sought for. Most colleges though account for these differences during admissions. The syllabi prescribed by the various boards are accused of being archaic and some textbooks (mostly ones written for the SSC) contain many errors.

The boards are recently trying to improve quality of education by increasing percentage of practical and project marks. However, critics say even this is memorized by students (or even plagiarized). This is attributed to pressure from parents who are eager to see high scores more than overall development.

Many people also criticize the caste, language and religion-based reservations in education system. Many allege that very few of the weaker castes get the benefit of reservations and that forged caste certificates abound. Educational institutions also can seek religious minority (non-Hindu) or linguistic minority status. In such institutions, 50% of the seats are reserved for students belonging to a particular religion or having particular mother-tongue(s). For example, many colleges run by the Jesuits and Salesians have 50% seats reserved for Roman Catholics. In case of languages, an institution can declare itself linguistic minority only in states in which the language is not official language. For example, an engineering college can declare itself as linguistic-minority (Hindi) institution in the state of Maharashtra (where official state language is Marathi), but not in Madhya Pradesh or Uttar Pradesh (where the official state language is Hindi). These reservations are said to be a cause of heartbreak among many. Many students with poor marks manage to get admissions, while meritorious students are left out. Critics say that such reservations may eventually create rifts in the society.

The general corruption prevalent in India is also an issue in the Education system. Engineering, medical and other lucrative seats are sometimes sold for high prices and ridden with nepotism and power-play. Student politics is also a major issue, as many institutions are run by politicians. Ragging is a major problem in colleges, many students die due to ragging every year. Some state governments have made ragging a criminal offence.

INDIA
India is a sovereign country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of over 7500 kilometers. It borders Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the northeast; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia.

Home to the Indus Valley civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was recognized for its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped the region's variegated culture. Gradually annexed by the British East India Company from the early eighteenth century and colonized by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century, India became a modern nation-state in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread use of nonviolent resistance as a means of social and political protest.

With the world's twelfth largest economy by market exchange rates and the fourth largest in purchasing power, India has made rapid economic progress in the last decade. Although the country's standard of living is projected to rise sharply in the next half-century, it currently battles high levels of poverty, illiteracy, persistent malnutrition, and environmental degradation. In addition to being a pluralistic, multi-lingual, and multi-ethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats and national parks.

For a detailed description of major Indian cities, please visit http://www.indus.org/indiacities.htm

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the current currency exchange rate?
The currency of India is the Rupee, which is divided into 100 paise. The Rupee comes in denominations of Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000. The printing of notes in the denominations of Re.1 and Rs.2 has been discontinued as these denominations have been coinised. However, such notes issued earlier are still in circulation. The current exchange rate is US$1 = INR 39.

2. What is the population and main language used?
There are over 1.1 billion Indians today and the number is growing every year. English is commonly used in all business transactions. Ten years ago, the United States was the country with the largest English-speaking population. Today, India has taken over that status. With roughly a third of its population – or more than 330 million – possessing English language capability, India has more people speaking the language than the US and UK combined However, the main spoken languages are Hindi and Urdu. India also has 25 other major regional languages!

3. What is the climate like?
India basically has a tropical climate with three main seasons:
Summer season: April to Mid-June
Monsoon season: Late June to September
Winter season: October to March

4. What is the proper clothing to wear in India’s climate? I also hear that Indians are a more conservative lot especially compared to people in Western countries. What kind of clothes would be acceptable?
During the winter months of October to March, light woolen clothes would be preferred. For the rest of the year, it can be very hot, so light, tropical clothing is advised. Shorts, minis and tank tops are unadvisable unless you're on a beach. In small towns and cities especially, people may tend to stare if you expose too much skin. Safe clothing would be trousers, peddle pushers, capris, skirts, tops and shirts. India has great cottons, which are trendy and affordable. Buy yourself some. Women could try wearing a salwar kameez, which is very cool and comfortable and could even improve the attitude of people towards them – salwar kameez are quite acceptable in Business meetings. Business attire is appropriate for business visits. We suggest that you plan to wear the same suit more than once to conserve suitcase space. Bring at least one pair of comfortable shoes!

5. What are the usual business hours in India?
Banks: 1000-1400 Mon-Fri, 1000-1200 Sat
Offices: 0930-1700 Mon-Fri, 0930-1300 Sat
Shops: 0930-2000 Mon-Sat

6. How safe is drinking water in India?
If you are from a foreign country, you may not be used to drinking the water here. Hence, we advise that you pick up a bottle of mineral water, which is cheap and widely available and usually provided in hotel rooms. Order the same when you are at a restaurant. As far as possible, avoid drinking any kind of water or juices from roadside carts and vendors; and, avoid ice outside touristy places!

7. How should I tip waiters at restaurants / hotels?
In tourist restaurants or hotels a 10% service charge is often added to bills, in which case there is no need to tip. In smaller places, where tipping is optional, you need only tip a maximum of 10 percentage of your bill. It is customary to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers.

8. How safe is it to eat non-vegetarian food in India?
Food is safe if eaten in a good hotel or restaurant.
Available: wonderful chicken and lamb dishes are offered.
Unavailable: India, being a primarily Hindu country, beef and pork are not easily available.

9. What is the economy of India like?
The economy of India is the fourth largest in the world as measured by purchasing power parity, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of around US $4 trillion. When measured in USD exchange-rate terms, it is the twelfth largest in the world, with a GDP of US $800 billion. India is the second fastest growing major economy in the world, with a GDP growth rate of 8.9% at the end of the first quarter of 2006-07.

The economy is diverse and encompasses agriculture, handicrafts, textile, manufacturing, and a multitude of services. Although two-thirds of the Indian workforce still earns their livelihood directly or indirectly through agriculture, services are a growing sector and are playing an increasingly important role in India's economy. The advent of the digital age, and the large number of young and educated populace fluent in English, is gradually transforming India as an important 'back office' destination for global companies for the outsourcing of their customer services and technical support. India is a major exporter of highly-skilled workers in software and financial services, and software Engineering.

India followed a socialist-inspired approach for most of its independent history, with strict government control over private sector participation, foreign trade, and foreign direct investment. However, since 1991, India has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment. The privatization of publicly owned industries and the opening up of certain sectors to private and foreign interest has proceeded slowly amid political debate.

India faces a burgeoning population and the challenge of economic and social inequality. Poverty remains a serious problem, although it has declined significantly since independence, mainly due to the green revolution and economic reforms.

10. How much money should I budget for meals?
Generally $25-$30 US per day should be sufficient to cover both lunch and dinner.