In an effort to strengthen educational exchange between India and France, French President Emmanuel Macron on Feb. 19 said his country would be admitting 30,000 Indian scholars by 2030. This goal was initially revealed in 2023, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris as the principal guest during France's National Day festivities. The student exchange initiative is a component of the people-to-people aspect of the India-France strategic alliance.
The French Embassy in India has implemented various strategies to make France an appealing destination for Indian scholars, including a five-year short-stay Schengen visa. It has also proposed the development of "international classes" – specialised programmes that provide extensive French language training along with academic preparation.
Reiterating the pledge during the inauguration of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Macron stated France would simplify visa and administrative processes to enhance support for students, especially those engaged in long-term studies such as PhDs.
"It is very important for us to welcome more Indian students and to have more French students coming here. We speak about 10,000 per year. We decided with Prime Minister Modi to have 30,000 by 2030," he said, according to NDTV.
Indo-French centre for AI in health
The Indo-French Centre for AI in Health has been established through a collaborative memorandum of understanding amongst AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute. This partnership also encompasses the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi along with various French institutions.
The centre was officially opened by Macron and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda during the French President's tour of India. It aims to enhance research powered by artificial intelligence, medical education, and innovations in clinical practice, with a special emphasis on brain health and global healthcare frameworks.
Emphasising the need for technological autonomy, Macron stated India and France should create “their own trusted AI systems” and decrease reliance on technologies produced in other regions, NDTV reported.
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