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Modi govt ministers prefer Oxford, Harvard for their children’s education and not IIT, IIM

Of the 56 ministers in Modi council, 12 have sent their children to foreign varsities. These ministers include Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Ravi Shankar Prasad.

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New Delhi: It seems ministers in the Narendra Modi government prefer foreign universities to Indian ones as many of them have sent their children abroad for higher education.

Of the 56 ministers in the PM’s Council of Ministers, 12 have sent their children to foreign universities.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is, however, among those ministers who didn’t send their children abroad. Shah’s son, Jay, has done his BTech from Nirma University, Ahmedabad.

Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s daughter Radhika graduated from Harvard University in May 2019, while his son Dhruv has done BA in Economics from there and is now pursuing MBA from the varsity.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar’s son Apoorva has completed his PhD in Economics from Boston University.

Children of all the three prominent ministers in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar — have got their degrees from foreign universities.

Singh’s younger son, Neeraj, completed his MBA from University of Leeds in the UK, while Sitharaman’s daughter Vangmayi Parakala completed her Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, according to staff in the ministers’ offices.

Jaishankar’s son Dhruva completed his MA from the US’ Georgetown University and daughter Medha did her BA in cinema from Denison University.

All these three ministers, however, got their degrees from Indian universities.

Singh did his MSc in Physics from Gorakhpur University, while both Jaishankar and Sitharaman completed their higher education from Jawaharlal Nehru University.


Also read: Indians make up third largest foreign student population in UK after China, US


‘Oxford, Harvard have much bigger reputation’

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s son Aditya Shankar, who practises law in India, did his LLM from Cornell University, while Health Minister Harsh Vardhan’s younger son, Sachin, has done a finance and accountancy course from Melbourne’s Monash University.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s daughter graduated from the London School of Economics and is now looking after the family business. Her daughter’s name could not be known.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s daughter Suhasini, who is a shooter by profession, has completed her advanced diploma course in leadership from Oxford University.

Minister of State in DONER (Development of North Eastern Region) Jitendra Singh’s son Arunoday completed a certificate course in economic development from Oxford University.

Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre’s son Nakul studied engineering in California University and is now settled there, said a family member of the minister.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s daughter Tilottama graduated from the University of Warwick and then did her LLM from University College London (UCL). She is now settled in the US.

“It’s not that Indian education is below the standard, but if one gets admission in the world’s best universities, then everyone will love to complete their education there,” said a BJP minister, who didn’t want to be named.

“There is no denying the fact that Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge have a much bigger reputation. Except for IITs, IIMs, very few of our Indian universities can compete with good foreign universities,” added the minister.

Ministers whose children studied in India

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has three daughters, and all of them studied in the country. His older daughter Aarushi graduated from Banasthali University in Rajasthan. She is now settled in Dubai.

His second daughter Shreyashi is a captain in the Indian Army. She has done her MBBS from Jolly Grant Medical College in Dehradun. The minister’s youngest daughter, Vidhushi, is studying law in Amity University, Noida. 

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s daughter is currently pursuing graduation from Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College. Pradhan’s PA refused to disclose the name of the minister’s daughter.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi’s two daughters — Arpita and Anusha — have completed their higher education from Karnataka. Arpita has done Bachelor in Engineering, while Anusha has a fashion designing degree.

Minister of State with independent charge in the Ministry of Labour Santosh Gangwar’s daughter, Shruti, had studied in IIT-Roorkee and son Apoorv did his BTech from BIT-Vellore. 

Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria’s son Chandrakant has done his MBA from IIM. He has recently cracked the Haryana Public Service Commission and has been selected for the post of SDM. His daughter Vandana has completed her Bachelor of Engineering from Jalandhar.

MoS, Railways, Suresh Angadi’s daughter Spurti did her MBBS from Bengaluru.


Also read: 21% fewer Indian students went abroad last year as US figures saw biggest drop


 

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42 COMMENTS

  1. Education is a personal choice of children and not related to profession of parents. Also Public Institute in india is tough to crack. But Education in Abroad is much better than public Institutes in India and world class. As Public Institute spending depends upon the Gross GDP earned by Average Indians which is way below Advanced Countries. So even Ministers can’t do much here. further Indians are corrupt so they are not able to make good use of the money saved it’s all goes in filling up poor roads again and again year after year. some people use it to give alcohol for people for votes and we all knows common or high profile Indians we are all corrupt . There are so many frauds reports including banks. Our attitude is obsolete unscientific and emotional. So we Indians are never able to grow to the highest potential even though we have great culture of Hindiusm. We still pay high taxes to make up to these white elephant corruption projects our debt never reduces. Pakistan is also another exemplary nation with outstanding corruption records. So nothing wrong in sending childrens to Abroad it’s good for country that at they will be highly educated rather than going through substandard education systems . But all is issues how they are going to pay the tution fees is not from black money.

  2. Education is so expensive in the US not sure how our politicians pay the fees and get them educated particularly in places like Harvard etc

  3. You fail to understand that the entrance tests of IIT and IIM are so tough and the rejection rate is so high that most of the wards of the politicians are most unlikely to make it. If you still do not know, then the rejection rates of IITs and IIMs are far higher than those of even the best universities in the world. So it is no wonder that the Ministers prefer to send their wards abroad where the acceptance rates are relatively higher than the IITs and IIMs.

    So it is a case of whether they can actually make it to an IIT or and IIM. And not the way you have portrayed it to be.

  4. True, Instead of developing Indian University standards these ministers are sending their kids where foreign government spend 6 to 10 % of their GDP on education and research. Point to be noted My Lord…

  5. Two points I would like to state:
    1. You have to qualify for the IIM and IIT for which you have the pass and secured a very decent rank by doing very well in one of the worpd most competitive exam i.e JEE Mains and advance.
    2. Every one capable enough apways( I repeat always) try to give best education to their sons/daughter.
    Sot his not an exception to cry so loudly about..

  6. NDA looted aam aadmi Rights and privacy name of RAJBHASHA LAWS……. Fighted everywhere and everyone else everything besides fact follio reports! Insteadly enjoying ours representative son and daughter full bobal lifestyle no can one asked questions about it!!! 👌 But voters priceless vote under counstistutional suspency about CAA, CAB, NPR, NRP what kinded frauds politics name of by for Rajdharm….. NOYA GOBOR Papa wallah Ghottolla wajii Chowkidar Satan ki shalla Sarkar…ki sikhya anithi .. 1947-2020 !!!👌

  7. It is so unfortunate that you see it as an issue than feeling good and positive about it!!
    If today we have ministers kids not failing colleges in and out of country and not getting spoiled by their parents political profile and inherit it as a family business and turn to be criminals like what we have plenty from past and present MLA’s /MP’s in central opposition and state ruling parties…….is it not good happening?!

    Instead seeing that, focus on pushing negativity into public with your freedom of speech on a positive trend!!!! Shame on you.

    I feel sorry to your parents who spend money and time to educate you and the outcome is only you becoming a frustrated educated illiterate with selective amnesia and spread your venom into the public as negativity and get paid for that too…… Pathetic.

    I would rather prefer to do the oldest profession in the world which only harm my body and reputation to make my bread.
    What I intend to do as bucket list for journalist like you, save such articles with comments and authors names and send to your next generation and relatives later to show how bad they were in spreading negativity into public with their selective amnesia for political leverage with the literacy they earned from their parents hard work.
    There many like you out there and especially in ThePrint, my bucket list is getting big day by day.
    I know your ego and attitudes will not allow you to change, but remember may be your next generation may not think like you do….. So, I hope many in public does like I intend to let them know, how big a hypocrite you were.

  8. By sending their children to foreign universities, there are admission seats left for other deserving citizens . This in a way is helping our nation .
    Looks like the person who wrote this article either doesn’t have the required acumen or financial capacity to pursue higher education abroad .

  9. It is so unfortunate that you see it as an issue than feeling good and positive about it,. If today we have ministers kids not failing colleges in and out of country and not getting spoiled by their parents political profile and inherit it as a family business and turn to be criminals like what we have plenty from past and present MLA’s /MP’s in central opposition and state ruling parties…….is it not good happening?!

    Instead seing that, focus on pushing negativity into public with your freedom of speach on a positive trend!!!! Shame on you.

    I feel sorry to your parents who spend money and time to educate you and the outcome is only you becoming a frustrated educated illetrate with selective amnesia and spread your venom into the public as negativity and get paid for that too…… Pathetic.
    I would rather prefer to do the oldest profession in the world which only harm my body and reputation to make my bread.
    What I intend to do as bucket list for journalist like you, save such articles with comments and authors names and send to your next generation and raltives later to show how bad they where in spreading negativity into public with their selective amnesia for political leverage with the literacy they earned from their parents hardwork.
    There many like you out their and especially in ThePrint, my bucket list is getting big day by day.
    I know your ego and attitudes will not allow you to change , but remember may be your next generation may not think like you do….. So I hope many in public does like I intend to let them know, how big a hypocrite you where.

  10. Please make a correction. It should be VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology), instead of BIT-Vellore. There is no institute called BIT-Vellore. Thanks.

  11. It’s not about preference of Oxford, Harvard. It’s about getting into IIT and IIM through fare competition. The situation applies to all who can afford to send their children to UK USA …. and not just ministers of Modi government. Author seems to be wearing polarised glasses unable to give him the natural and real view.

  12. Lakhs and lakhs of indian children are going to foreign universities every year and there is nothing wrong if children of bjp, congress or any other political party leader’s children also use this option for their careers and bright future. Children are neither leaders of the parties nor their parents will lookafter the future of their children for ever. Being minister or a leader in a political party does not debar anyone from making brighter future for their children. It’s global world. Many of the professionals, poor, rich, businessman including journalists from India use this available option for their xhildren. It is bad journalism to paint such children with poor light. All journalists must also be pursueing for brighter futures for their children and or for their near & dear. Next time please do a story on these common people.

  13. People that vote for them are sent to WhatsApp University. Smart move, mantri jis! Keep the kids out of the country so they don’t have to face the joblessness and bad economy..

  14. It is no big deal to study at foreign universities. May be, the writer of the article, and the editor who approved, have some personal grudge against foreign-educated Indians. The article is eminently dismissable.

    • Fully endorse your view. Some of the children studied abroad before their parent became a minister eg. Forign minister Jaishankar. Secondly, what is wrong in studying in a foreign university abd getting a more varied exposure ?

  15. IIT IIM are hard to get too much compitition for that its easier to get to such oxford harvard cambridge if you have money like rahul gandhi did but otherwise you have to do hard work to be in any of the colleges or universities

  16. It is not enough for the parents to have money to send their children abroad for higher studies. Children must also have the capacity to be there. Rahul went to Cambridge but failed and so did Sonia. Priyanka did not go that far.

  17. ”Modi often speaks of those in J&K who are known to be anti India that while their children are study in foreign universities and they carry on anti national activities in India. But Modi has not named any one possibly it is to bring disrepute to them.” These were in the press, you probably missed them.
    https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/separatists-close-schools-in-kashmir-but-send-their-children-abroad-for-studies-says-amit-shah-2062423
    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/their-kids-study-abroad-separatists-call-for-school-and-college-bandhs-in-kashmir-amit-shah/articleshow/70033981.cms

  18. This story is in bad taste…..This gives an impression that Ministers are guilty of sending their children to study in overseas Universities! This is substandard journalism….and not expected of #ThePrintExclusive.

    Perhaps, you should –
    (a) Also look at how many of these sons and daughters (of Ministers) have come back to India and working in India after studying in foreign Universities.
    (b) How many of the children of politicians (across party lines) are studying overseas! …..

    Otherwise, this is one-sided story. Shows The PRint in bad light.

  19. Please note that “university” and “varsity” are different although they have been used interchangeably in this article. A university is a post-secondary institution that can provide higher education and degrees. A varsity is a sports team at a university. In American English varsity is used to describe an upper elite level of sports in high school. I have almost never seen it used in Indian English.

    • Varsity is an abridged or shortened form of university. So simple. There is nothing wrong in using varsity interchangeably with university.

  20. This is called sensationlisation . Just look at the headline, it suggest these ministers children had the option of studying in IIM / IIT but the opted foreign institute. Reality is, u get admission in IiM / IIt thru a tough admission test whereas u can get the admission in mentioned foreign institute by paying high admission fee.. which I m sure these ministers are capable to afford ..

  21. Since unable to go to lap dog school, sure want to send (with own money) son to same lap dog place. and boast phoren educated. Son manages now the cash register.

  22. Sensible of them. Even so called top Indian universities are not a patch on their overseas counterparts when it comes to an overall education experience.

  23. This is DESHVAKTI! Hindutva, hindutva kehlo, garibon ko chuso aur apna, apna family ka maal badhaao. Congress ke corrupt ministers bhi yehi karte the; ab BJP-wale bhi wohi karte hain. Congress “Garibi Hataao” bol ke janta ko loot rahi thi, BJP “Jai Shree Ram” ka naara de ke.

  24. And says all these Ministers Minister the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it is not Harvard but Hard work that wins the race. Mocking the Nobel Prize is the fashion for RSS and the Ministers in the Modi Govt. The write up is excellent. It exposes the Ministers who claim themselves a nationalist and are the part of the Modi team which boasts of India first. It is not to say that being son or daughter of a Minister of whichever Ministry they are in cannot or should not send their children to foreign select university. One thing is sure though that being a son or daughter in India it helps in getting the admission while in foreign University it is not so. Modi often speaks of those in J&K who are known to be anti India that while their children are study in foreign universities and they carry on anti national activities in India. But Modi has not named any one possibly it is to bring disrepute to them. While it is not for the Ministers with whom he works. Hypocracy at its height.

  25. Indians have taken many habits from the British people. Some are good while some are bad. India should copy school level Science education from the British. Our school level science curriculum needs complete overhauling as most of them are not fit for the time in which we live.

  26. India teaches f block elements to her year 11 students, UK does not. UK teaches infra red spectroscopy, proton NMR and Carbon 13 NMR to its students in year 11 and 12, India does not. India examines its students based on rote learning, UK examines its students on their capacity to apply the theory in daily lives. That is the difference.

  27. We teach Kirchoff’s law to our students in Physics, but we never tell them how to fix a plug. We teach our students how to do titration calculations, but many of those students have never seen what a burette is.. Our scientific education needs complete overhauling. And our syllabus and the sizes of our text books are so huge. Our ICSE and CBSE year 11 textbooks in chemistry are bigger than two year A level chemistry textbook in UK. We teach lot of trash which has no relevance in modern days.

  28. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT- these are elite institutions. That does not mean IIT and IIM are not good. But even the Chinese and everyone else in the world prefers these universities over their own because these places have worldwide reputation. Most Indian universities do not fit into that category.
    In India, we study more but learn less.

    • In India, we still make kids learn Dalton Atomic theory and who jumped out of the bath tub on the bathroom shouting…. Sheesh,My heart literally bleeds for these kids.

  29. one of Rajnaths kid : Pankaj Singh did MBA (PGDM) in 2001 from Amity Noida, B.Com from Dyal Singh College in 1999 after completing his senior secondary from Mahanagar Boys’ Inter College Lucknow in 1996.[4]
    Alos do u hear ursled .. out of 56 only 12 have sent .. thats not even 30 percent .. see this is how u spread propaganda

  30. If one can arrange the money, it is much easier to get an admission in these alleged top universitities, when compared to what it would take for a premium Indian university. (DU included, JNU excluded). If any of these kids had cracked Beijing university, I’d call that an achievement.

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