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CET Cell notifies new guidelines for international quota admissions
CET Cell notifies new guidelines for international quota admissions

Hindustan Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Hindustan Times

CET Cell notifies new guidelines for international quota admissions

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell on July 25 launched a dedicated web portal for the admission of international category students, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWGC), and Foreign Nationals (FNS), for the academic year 2025-26. All recognised universities, colleges, and institutes offering seats under NRI and supernumerary quotas have been directed to strictly follow the new process. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) Following an amendment to the definition of NRI under a new ordinance, effective from June 25, authorities have revised the eligibility criteria and documentation process for NRI quota admissions. Under the new definition, NRIs include individuals classified as 'not ordinarily resident' under the Income Tax Act and those possessing an NRI certificate issued by an Indian Mission abroad. Their children or wards are covered under this category. The newly-launched admission portal, will centralise applications for international category students seeking admission to technical, medical, higher education, and fine arts programmes across Maharashtra. All recognised universities, colleges, and institutes offering seats under NRI and supernumerary quotas have been directed to strictly follow the new process. Institutions will receive unique login credentials to access student applications, verify eligibility, and publish merit-based admission lists. Admission will be finalised only after fee payment in USD, physical verification of original documents, and confirmation through the portal. Candidates can receive multiple offers but are allowed to confirm only one seat. Failure to pay within deadlines will result in cancellation of the allotted seat. The CET Cell will issue provisional eligibility certificates (PECs) to eligible candidates to support visa applications. However, final admission will be subject to document verification by the concerned institute. Colleges are also required to assist admitted students in completing immigration formalities within 14 days of joining, and to ensure uploading of required medical reports, residential proof, and accommodation details. 'The CET Cell has launched a portal for the registration of 'Foreign National' candidates, and has provided a link for registration. From this year, candidates who were born outside India and whose parents reside in a foreign country will be considered under the NRI category. The definition of NRI has been revised accordingly. As per the new criteria, the candidate must be born outside India and their parents must be currently living abroad. This is now a mandatory rule,' said Jayant Patil, OSD, CET Cell. He further said that in the previous years, some candidates were granted admission under the 'Foreign National' category by naming their relatives living abroad as dependents. This provision has now been strictly discontinued. For registration, candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of $50. Once registered, the candidate will be sent an offer for admission. To confirm the admission, a further fee of $1,150 must be paid. 'Earlier, it was observed that some candidates who did not score well in the CET exam would still gain admission to top institutions like COEP by applying through the 'Foreign National' route. This practice will now be completely stopped,' said Patil.

Complaints pile up against only agency providing Indian consular services in Canada

time18-07-2025

  • Business

Complaints pile up against only agency providing Indian consular services in Canada

Every time Prashant Vashista thinks of BLS International — the sole company sanctioned by the Indian consulate to handle services like visas and passport renewals in Canada — his mind goes back two years to his mother's death. Grief-stricken, he drove an hour to BLS's Brampton location to arrange for emergency visas so he could see his family in India. Even though he picked up the visas himself, Vashista said employees demanded he pay a $45 courier fee for himself, his daughter and his wife, totalling $135. I was in dire need. So I had to pay, he told CBC Toronto. It wasn't the first or last time BLS allegedly pushed him to pay for services he didn't need — and his experience isn't unique. CBC spoke with numerous people who described being pressured to pay extra charges at BLS, many of whom felt their ability to visit India or legally stay in Canada depended on it. Former employees at one BLS branch say they're not surprised, saying staff were encouraged to charge clients as much as possible and find minor errors in their forms or photos to sell services or reduce the backlog of applications. I knew 100 per cent that we are wrong… and we are [over]charging the clients, said one former supervisor. BLS says it has reputation for 'service excellence' BLS has locations across the country that provide services like passport renewal, police criminal record checks, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards, which function as lifelong visas. A quick web search reveals a trove of public Facebook posts, Reddit threads and online petitions — one of which has more than 7,000 signatures — created by frustrated BLS clients. The company has also been awarded an F rating by the Better Business Bureau. In response to CBC Toronto's questions about the complaints, BLS said the company has a longstanding reputation for transparency, compliance, and service excellence. Enlarge image (new window) BLS's Brampton location, where Prashant Vashista says he was pressured to pay for unnecessary courier fees. Photo: CBC / Saloni Bhugra We remain fully aligned with the standards and expectations of the governments and authorities we work alongside, BLS communications manager Pooja Arora wrote. Where concerns are raised, we will always investigate them thoroughly and take appropriate steps to improve. For its part, the Consulate General of India in Toronto says it is committed to prompt, efficient service, adding that BLS International was selected through a competitive bidding process. Client describes 'legalized plunder' During a visit to the Mississauga location in April, one client says his OCI application ran aground when staff pressed him for extra documents not mentioned on the BLS website and found minor issues with his photos and application forms. CBC Toronto has agreed to protect his identity because he fears repercussions from BLS during future visits. In a complaint he later sent to the company, he says staff used scare tactics to push him to pay for extra fees, called his wife dumb and threatened to blacklist him when he asked to see an itemized receipt before paying. Harpreet Hora, a lawyer based in Kenora, Ont., says he had similar experiences during two separate visits to Toronto BLS locations. They forced me to take a courier service… which I had never asked for, he said. Shivam Nehra says he had to make multiple trips to the BLS offices, with new mistakes on his form being pointed out each time. Photo: CBC / Paul Smith Though he later received refunds after complaining to both the company and the consulate, he described the ordeals as obviously stressful and a sort of harassment. You see that this is legalized plunder from people, Hora said, pointing out that few people have the time or patience to pursue refunds. Another client, Shivam Nehra of Oakville, says he was pressured to pay $100 for a premium lounge service to bypass the long lineups outside while he faced down a looming permanent residency application deadline. I went there three to four times to get my documents corrected and every time, these guys will point out any different mistake, he said. The story on the inside It appears the situation wasn't better on the other side of the counter. Three former employees, all of whom worked in the Brampton location within the last five years, say they were kept on short-term contracts and felt pressured to find issues with applications or add extra charges. CBC Toronto has agreed to protect their identities over concerns about impacts to their careers. You need to find a reason where you can take out money from a client, one said. If you're not selling, you will be kicked off, they continued, describing internal staff competitions over who could sell the most services, with gift baskets going to the winners. Enlarge image (new window) An image from inside of Brampton's BLS office, shared by a former employee, that appears to show a sign displaying internal staff competitions. Photo: Submitted With little guidance on official standards, reasons to reject applications could be as minor as a missing comma or writing ave. instead of avenue on a form. They also said some mistakes were unavoidable because of how the company's own online application forms were formatted. Two employees also said they would push unwilling clients to use their courier service and charge families multiple times, despite deliveries going to the same address. 'I know what you're doing' The same employee who described looking for misplaced commas said they ultimately left the company because they were disturbed by having to lie to clients they often sympathized with. There are students who are doing their applications for their permanent residency, not having jobs… or getting minimum wage, but still BLS is charging them like two or three hundred dollars [for] a thing which could be done [for] $40. All three also say they eventually found themselves returning to BLS for services, where they or their families were charged for add-ons they didn't want. I was like, 'Man, I have worked at this location and I know what you're doing,' the same employee recalled telling a Brampton staff member, who charged them an unnecessary courier fee, which they say they had no choice but to pay. The search for accountability As a private company contracted by a non-Canadian consulate in Canada, BLS operates outside of the purview of any federal or provincial immigration ministry. Global Affairs Canada says that while it authorizes the establishment of consular posts, it has no authority over a company contracted by a foreign state, recommending instead that people with issues reach out to their local consumer protection office, or, in the event of a criminal complaint, the police. Consumer Protection Ontario, meanwhile, says it has received just one complaint related to BLS International in the last three years, but declined to comment on the outcome. An overnight lineup outside the Brampton BLS office in 2023, during a rush to apply for OCI cards following India's suspension of visa services for Canadians. Photo: Radio-Canada / Saloni Bhugra The only body with authority to fire or discipline BLS is the Consulate General of India, who said in a statement to CBC Toronto that every effort is being made — including through internal reviews, coordination with BLS, and process improvements — to ensure that service standards continuously improve. Former client Harpreet Hora isn't so sure. For the last three years, he's found himself researching BLS, including several right-to-information requests with the Indian government over how many complaints they've received about the company. Much to my surprise, the Indian consulate says they do not have data of this, he said. The consulate did not comment on Hora's claim that it had no data on complaints, when asked by CBC Toronto. I feel cheated by the Indian consulate, said Hora. Reason being… I'm making complaints to you, and you're not taking action. Naama Weingarten (new window) · CBC News · Reporter Naama Weingarten is a reporter with CBC News based in Toronto. You can reach her at or follow her on X @NaamaWeingarten.

Map Shows Countries That Don't Allow Dual Citizenship
Map Shows Countries That Don't Allow Dual Citizenship

Newsweek

time16-07-2025

  • Business
  • Newsweek

Map Shows Countries That Don't Allow Dual Citizenship

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Data mapped by Newsweek shows which countries do not allow dual citizenship. Why It Matters A recent Harris Poll survey revealed that 42 percent of U.S. adults have thought about or intend to move abroad to enhance their lifestyle or financial well-being. This figure climbs to 63 percent among Gen Z adults and 52 percent among millennials. What To Know According to Henley & Partners—a U.K.-based investment migration consultancy—at least 39 countries do not permit dual citizenship. In Africa, these include Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, and Congo. In the Americas, Cuba and Suriname do not allow dual citizenship; in Europe, these include Andorra, Estonia, Monaco, and San Marino. As for Asia, Henley & Partners says countries that prohibit dual citizenship include: Azerbaijan Bhutan Brunei China India Indonesia Iran Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Laos Malaysia Myanmar Nepal North Korea Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Uzbekistan Countries that ban dual citizenship typically do so to preserve national identity, ensure loyalty, and avoid legal complications, Henley & Partners said. Key reasons include concerns over divided allegiance, potential security risks (like military conflicts or espionage), legal complexities related to taxation and rights, and fears that dual nationality may dilute cultural or political cohesion. Notable examples include China, India, and Singapore. China fully bans dual citizenship, citing the importance of loyalty and safeguarding national unity. India disallows it to maintain legal and administrative clarity, offering Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status instead, which grants limited privileges without full citizenship. Singapore upholds a firm one-citizenship rule, stressing national allegiance and requiring proof of renunciation of other citizenships before granting naturalization, the firm said. What People Are Saying Tim Osiecki, director of thought leadership and trends at The Harris Poll, previously told Newsweek: "For most of modern history, the American Dream was rooted in one place: America. But that's shifting," "While dual citizenship used to be reserved for retirees, the wealthy, or those with strong family ties abroad, it's now a growing goal for middle-class Americans who want more control over their future," he said. "It marks a real mindset shift—less about pledging allegiance to one nation, more about staying agile in a world that feels increasingly unstable." What Happens Next "This isn't about a mass migration overnight—but we are at a tipping point," Osiecki said previously. "One in five younger Americans say they're seriously considering moving abroad, and that kind of intent matters. So, while it may not be an exodus yet, it's certainly a movement, and it speaks volumes about how people are feeling about life in the U.S. right now," he said. "The American Dream may not be ending—it could simply be relocating."

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