'Everything In Flames...': Devastating Visuals From Ukraine After Russian Non-Stop Assault
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The Hindu
22 minutes ago
- The Hindu
For Karnataka students, the grass is still greener overseas
In September 2021, Nikitha Rajesh, a student from Bengaluru, flew to London to pursue her long-standing dream of a foreign education. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Bengaluru and gaining two years of work experience, she secured admission to a master's programme in Digital Marketing and Analytics in a private university in the United Kingdom (UK). By the time she finished the one-year programme, the immigration laws of the U.K. had changed, leaving her with no sponsors for a work visa. Cut to 2025, she is back in Bengaluru and working in a private company after her job prospects in the U.K. did not work out. When a war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, around 18,000 people from India were escorted back to the country by the Union government under 'Operation Ganga'. A majority of them were students who were pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Among the returnees was Mahaganapathi Kashinath from Karnataka. After attempts to continue his education in India failed, he went to Uzbekistan to finish his medical course. Recently, in June 2025, under 'Operation Sindhu', the government brought back over 3,500 people from Iran after tensions escalated between the country and Israel. Among these were also a few students from Karnataka who were pursuing medical education there. Be it geopolitical tensions, new immigration laws, visa troubles or non-availability of jobs, many students who had gone to countries such as the United States of America, Ukraine, Russia, Canada, the U.K. and those in Central Asia from Karnataka have returned in the last couple of years. While uncertainty loomed over many of their futures, some have managed to bring their studies and careers back on track after either flying to other countries to complete their education or deciding to find jobs in India. Ukraine to other countries For the students who were in Ukraine, returning home was a necessity as their safety was not guaranteed in the war-torn country any more. But once they were back home, they were not sure if they would be able to continue their education. Most of them ended up transferring to universities in one of the 29 countries under the Academic Mobility Programme initiated by the Ukrainian government after the National Medical Council issued a 'no-objection' to it. However, this one-time opportunity was available only for the final-year medical students. Luckily, Mahaganapathi was in his final year of MBBS. 'When my son returned from Ukraine, he attended online classes for six months. All of us, parents, tried so much to get the Indian government to admit our students to a medical college here. But it was in vain. He had no choice but to go to Uzbekistan to finish his course, just like 90% of the students from his class. While we were relieved that he got to finish his education, we were a little disappointed as he had to repeat a semester after going to Uzbekistan, as they did not validate the semester that was conducted online,' said his father, Kashinath Bilimaggad from Gadag district in north Karnataka. Mahaganapathi hopes to return to India for his post-graduation studies and find work here, according to his father. For the students who returned from Ukraine, countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Philippines became alternative options for their education. Educational counsellors reported that most of their clients ended up going to one of these countries to finish their medical degrees, even if they had to seek fresh admissions. Many of them had initially gone to Ukraine as one lakh medical seats in India that become available every year are nowhere close to the demand. Similar stories are narrated by students who have returned from Iran. Syeda Muffarhe Zainab was pursuing her final year MBBS at a university in Tehran when the war broke out. Now, back in her home town in Chickballapur district in south Karnataka, she is hoping to return to Iran. 'I am constantly in touch with the university, and they have said we might be able to go back by August 20. But if God forbid something happens and we cannot make it back there, then I would like to request the government to provide us with some seats here as we are almost finished with our course,' she says. Immigration troubles in the U.K. Most students go abroad seeking exposure that they believe they cannot find in India, especially when they go to countries such as the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. 'I went to the U.K. to get a more universal educational experience where I get to learn with people of many nationalities and experts,' says Nikitha. When she initially went there, her plan was to find a job and settle down in the U.K. However, when she was about to finish her degree, a new immigration policy — which mandated a £37,000 income to get a sponsored work visa — came into force. With her two years of experience in India and some short-term gigs in the U.K., she did not qualify for a sponsorship from companies there. 'No matter what skills you have, it all comes down to whether you need a visa to work in the U.K. If you need a visa, then the job interview would not move forward from there. While I could buy a work visa for the first two years after I finished my education, after that period, a company would need to sponsor it. I applied for hundreds of jobs, but because of the visa constraint, I had to move back home,' she says. She says that many of her Indian peers who were insistent on staying back in the U.K. changed their job sectors/industries just to get a work visa sponsorship. Repaying educational loans For students affected by such immigration policies, returning home is the only option, but jobs here would not pay them as much as in foreign countries. This particularly becomes a problem for students who have taken educational loans. 'I knew almost six months prior that I would not get a visa extension, even though I had already worked for two years in the U.K. after finishing my studies. Hence, I started saving up by cutting down on my expenses as I knew I had to pay my monthly loan instalments once I was back home, even if I did not have a job or got a job that might not pay very well. It has been three months since I returned, and I have been applying for jobs in Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, as it is difficult to pay back my loan on an Indian salary,' says Akash Venkateshan, who pursued a Master of Science degree in the U.K. The demand for higher education in the U.S. has slightly reduced now, especially after the Donald Trump administration announced that the social media accounts of college applicants will be checked for background verification. 'This announcement has forced a lot of students to clean up their digital footprint, as some fear has gripped them. It has also taken the U.S. out as an option for students who are outspoken or are activists and do not wish to provide access to their social media accounts,' says Ameen-e-Mudassar, international career counsellor. Some students who originally preferred the U.S. for their education are now considering options such as Germany, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, while Canada, which was the other preferred destination, has also lost demand now, owing to its diplomatic clashes with India. Rahul Subramaniam, co-founder of an educational consultancy, says that students who have already secured admission to top U.S. colleges remain committed to their paths. 'For them, the academic and professional opportunities they are accessing far outweigh the usual ups and downs of American politics,' he says. Why foreign education? Despite recent events and tensions, the demand for foreign education is on the rise among Bengaluru students, according to educational counsellors as well as data from the government. While there were 1.3 million students pursuing higher education abroad in 2024, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, the latest numbers are close to 1.8 million. Many of them have changed their destinations, but their dreams remain the same. 'The market is still booming for MBBS education abroad,' notes Ameen. 'Countries like Uzbekistan and Georgia are selling the dream of becoming a doctor at a cost of ₹25 lakh to ₹30 lakh. Even after so many wars, not much has changed in this regard. This is just a matter of selling an acre of land to make their children doctors, especially for rural students,' Ameen says. He adds that Central Asian countries depend on students from India for their economic boost. While some of these MBBS students practise medicine in those countries after finishing their course, others struggle to find employment. Counsellors say that some of them end up as agents to bring in more students to the universities and work on a commission basis. Are students so desperate for education abroad due to the lack of quality education in India? Not entirely, according to experts. 'Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, and many private universities offer good quality education in India. But today's youngsters are interested in exploring the world. Their priorities are different as they do not care about generational wealth and would want to build something on their own, and they view education abroad as a gateway to that,' Ameen says. Counsellors and consultants say that foreign colleges and universities sell their programmes better than those in India. 'They have good tie-ups with agents and push their colleges in ways that Indian universities do not. Top-tier colleges in India also look for knowledge and skills while for many foreign countries, it is about the money Indian students bring,' he says. Another driving factor is the advent of social media. 'If one person from a family moves abroad for education, the number of stories they put up on social media inspires other youngsters to pursue education abroad,' he says. (Edited by Giridhar Narayan)
NDTV
22 minutes ago
- NDTV
Karnataka High Court Halts Deportation Of Russian Woman's Children Found In Cave
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has intervened to temporarily halt the deportation of a Russian woman's children, emphasising the need to consider their best interests as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The decision of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav came during the hearing of a writ petition that was filed to challenge a sudden deportation order issued against the children. The petitioner, represented by advocate Beena Pillai, argued that the deportation process disregarded the children's welfare and violated UNCRC principles. The assistant solicitor general (ASG), appearing in the matter for the Union of India, informed the court that the children currently lack valid travel or identity documents. Based on this submission, the court observed that immediate deportation was not reasonable at this stage. However, the court stressed the importance of a detailed hearing to thoroughly examine the case. It directed the respondents to submit a written affidavit, confirming the absence of valid documents, and file their objections within two weeks. Additionally, the court issued a clear directive that no deportation plan can be executed without prior intimation to it, effectively stalling any unilateral deportation effort until the next hearing scheduled for August 18. Nina Kutina (40), along with her two daughters Preya (6) and Ama (4), was rescued by police from the Ramatirtha cave at Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district on July 11. Kutina was staying here even though her visa had expired.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Russia Gets New Nuclear-Capable Submarine; Putin Declares ‘Moscow On A Mission Against…'
/ Jul 25, 2025, 07:00AM IST Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a fresh nuclear warning to the West by commissioning the Knyaz Pozharsky, a new Borei-class nuclear submarine, at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. The high-profile event took place in the Arkhangelsk region and underscored Moscow's intent to modernize its naval strike force. The submarine, armed with 16 nuclear-tipped Bulava missiles, is the eighth of its kind to enter service. Putin declared that Russia is on a mission against mounting pressure from the West.#putin #russia #nuclearpower #boreiclass #submarine #military #kremlin #navy #bulava #geopolitics
