Macron pledges simpler visas to attract students

France has set its sights on a major expansion of its academic ties with India, unveiling a plan to host 30,000 Indian students in the coming years—triple the present annual intake.

- Simple Vishwakarma

The pledge was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during an address at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, signalling Paris's intent to become a leading destination for Indian higher education aspirants.

At present, around 10,000 Indian students enrol in French institutions each year. Macron said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed that education should be elevated as a core pillar of the bilateral relationship, alongside defence, trade and technology cooperation.

A numerical target with political weight

The ambition, French officials indicated, is not merely symbolic. By setting a specific numerical target, Paris is seeking to compete more forcefully with traditional destinations such as the United States, Britain and Australia. Indian students, now the worlds largest cohort studying abroad, have become central to global university strategies.