The Government of India has revised the guidelines concerning the granting of study visas for visiting foreign research scholars and professors to India.

The new rules will see overseas research scholars in Indian educational institutions being able to apply to the country's missions abroad, instead of waiting for the HRD ministry's clearance.

As greater numbers of people choose India as their further educational destination of choice, the government has delegated the power to issue such applicants visas to the missions abroad.

Prior to the recent rule amendment, scholars heading for Indian educational institutes have had to obtain a research visa by applying to the union ministry of human resources development. These visas were then granted by the missions concerned on advice from the union ministry.