INDIA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The UK Home Office has announced the details for the final 2024 ballot of the India Young Professional Scheme.

India Young Professional Scheme

• About: It originated from an India-U.K. Migration and Mobility Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2021, and was subsequently announced in November during the G20 summit in Bali.
• Launch: February 2023.
• Scope and Participation: Allows up to 3,000 degree-holding citizens aged 18-30 from each country to work in the other for 2 years.
• India is the first visa-national country to participate.
• Features

o Allows Indians aged 18-30 to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

o Permit holders can enter and leave the UK freely during their visa validity.

• Eligibility Criteria: Must be an Indian national aged 18-30 with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

o Requires £2,530 in savings and no dependent children under 18.

• Visa Conditions: Must enter the UK within 6 months of visa issuance.
• Activities Allowed in the UK:

o Permits study, including certain sensitive subjects under ATAS certification.

o Allows work in most job sectors.

o Allows setting up a company under specific conditions (e.g., no employees, limited equipment value).