Could Indian Degrees Soon Carry More Weight Across BRICS Countries?

Source: India Today | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 04:13:55 UTC

Key Points

• India is hosting the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, and has promoted cooperation in education, research and academic mobility.
• At the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bhubaneswar, member countries agreed to hold further Working Group meetings to advance discussions on a Mutual Recognition of Qualifications agreement.
• The proposed framework aims to facilitate academic mobility and cooperation across BRICS, with particular relevance for STEM education.
• Recent Indian Ministry of External Affairs data show Russia is the largest BRICS destination for Indian university students, with about 27,000 reported in January 2025.
• China followed with 5,330 Indian university students, while Iran, Egypt, South Africa and Saudi Arabia had smaller reported numbers.
• The UAE had 253,832 Indian students overall, but only 6,507 were in universities or tertiary institutions, with most being school students.
• Mutual recognition of qualifications would not automatically allow professional practice abroad, as common quality-assurance standards and regulated-profession rules would still be needed.