France is set to welcome 30,000 Indian students annually by 2030, a threefold increase from current numbers, French President Emmanuel Macron announced during his visit to New Delhi. The move reflects a push to deepen educational and research ties between India and France.
Macron highlighted that France will simplify visa processes, offering longer-duration student visas and visa-free transit for Indian travellers, making it easier for students to pursue full academic programmes, including PhDs. The country is also expanding English-taught courses, particularly in science, technology, and innovation fields, to attract more Indian students.
During his visit, Macron, alongside Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS Delhi. The centre, developed in collaboration with Sorbonne University, the Paris Brain Institute, and IIT Delhi, will focus on artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly brain research and clinical innovation.
Macron stressed that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to build trusted and ethically governed AI systems, while promoting people-to-people connections through education and research collaborations.
Also Read: US-Iran war fears rise as forces build up
