Institutions no longer require Ministry of External Affairs clearance for online conferences

The move was widely condemned by the academic community and several science academies wrote to the education ministry complaining about it.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has withdrawn its earlier directive that required academic institutions in the country to seek MEA permission for holding international conferences and seminars online. Last month, the Ministry of Education, based on the letter sent by the MEA, has asked all the higher education institutions to seek the approval of the secretary of the respective ministry before organising any international conferences, seminars or training online or virtually. 

The move was widely condemned by the academic community and several science academies wrote to the education ministry complaining about it. On February 24, the MEA issued fresh guidelines stating political clearance for international conferences/seminars/training, etc due to the Covid-19 pandemic are no longer applicable. All such events will, however, continue to be governed by the same rules and regulations that were applicable to political clearances before the Covid-19 pandemic.

In its previous circular, the MEA also asked to seek approval for the list of participants invited to the event. 

The past circular read: “The permission will only be given if the subject matter of the online event is not related to the security of the state, the India border, the Northeast, Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, or any other issue, which is related to India's internal matters. If the subject matter is related to any of these topics, the case must be referred to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).” The circular was applicable to ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, central educational institutions, public-funded universities, or an organisation owned and controlled by any government authority.