In a bid to attract more international talent IITs for the first time are planning hold their entrance tests in Singapore, UAE, Ethiopia and SAARC nations next year to select foreign students for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

At a recent meeting between officials of HRD and External Affairs ministries, eight countries, were zeroed in on for holding the entrance tests for foreign nationals. “The entrance tests for IITs abroad have been held only to admit Indian nationals. This is for the first time that it has been planned to admit foreign students through tests held abroad. It is aimed that the plan would be operational from the JEE/GATE exams in 2017,” said a senior HRD Ministry official.